We're not usually big fans of guided tours but we sure are glad we did one for the Vatican. Queues for individual entry can take 2 to 3 hours at least. There are typically 25,000 people a day that enter the city.
Our guide Roberta was as much fun as she was informative. She even kept her cool when at the end of the tour one bloke asked when we would see the Sistine Chapel. We had actually already spent 25 minutes in there but he failed to notice where he was.
The Vatican museum is a treasure house of old masters and Roman antiquities. Where else can you see a whole room where each wall was painted by Raphael? Halls that feature statues from ancient Rome, enormous tapestries from Belgium and renaissance Italy and the map gallery where the known world was geographically recorded in frescoes. Touring through the apartments of the old popes was very enlightening because each one added their own personal touch to the decor. A Raphael here, a Boticelli there just to add a bit of home, you know.
Then we entered the Sistine Chapel and nothing can prepare you for that. Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling covers 400 square meters in astonishing colour and clarity. It took him years to complete and remarkably was the first painting he had ever done. He was a sculptor, not a painter and at first refused the commission. 4 years later working completely alone and almost blind from the candle smoke he finished what we see today. Just an amazing story.
Strictly a no photo venue so can't show you specifically.
St Peters basilica is the largest church in the world. Inside you can see the enormous marble columns and religious frescoes and not one of them is painted. Every one of them is a mozaic. In fact all the colour in the basilica is provided by natural stone alone.
Enjoy the pictures.
The walk home was via St Angelo's fortress and across the bridge where we saw the very ornate Palace of Justice. Ironically someone tried to scam us right there by first pulling up in his car and asking for directions to the Vatican. He was a well dressed man who told us he was a sales rep from Gucci but was from Milan. As thanks for our help he offered Jackie a complimentary leather bag. How nice. Jackie thought she had scored an Italian leather bag, even felt it lovingly but not for long. Unfortunately he was also short of petrol and they wouldn't take any of his credit cards. Could we also help him out with some petrol money? The scam collapsed instantly as the bag went back in the car (much to Jackie's annoyance) and we sent him on his way.
The heat was becoming quite oppressive as we walked on to the Piazza del Popolo. We were cooling ourselves off with lovely clear water from the fountain (all the fountains in Rome have cool clean drinkable water) when we saw a man cooling off his cat the same way. Though it looked a bit bedraggled it seemed quite content to ride home again on its owners shoulders.
A little further along is the Spanish Steps. While a known popular meeting place we were completely unaware of the concentration of up market brand names within that one small piazza. Tiffany's, Sergio Rossi shoes (which Jackie had to be dragged past), Dolce & Gabbana and Dior all rubbed shoulders. Of note was a sign saying simply "Versace, opening soon".
Climbing the Spanish Steps leads to the gardens of the Villa Borghese. It is the largest park in Rome with lots of meandering paths, lakes, fountains and the villa itself which is now a gallery. There is even a zoo in the grounds. The locals love this park and can be seen riding hired 4 wheeled cycles and other pedalled contraptions all over. There is even a funny little electric bus to get about the park in. After a well earned ice cream from the Gelati van (they are everywhere) we walked back to the hotel to have a rest and give some serious thought to what might be on for dinner.
Click here for pictures of the Vatican and Vatican Museum.
Click here for pictures of St Peters basilica.
Click here for pictures of Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese.
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