The Vatican

Saturday, 17 May

Early breakfast so that we can get on the bus at 7:20 a.m. to go with a guide to the Vatican, Colosseum and Roman Forum.

The Vatican is a sovereign city-state of about 110 acres. Of course, there is so much to see that our tour was quite limited. The basilica of St. Peter is beautiful and huge!  It is one of the largest churches in the world, and its designers included Michelangelo, Bernini and Raphael. St. Peter is buried here, as are many of the popes. (John Paul II’s body is in the basilica. In his red and white vestments, he looks something like St. Nicholas.) No buildings in Rome can be constructed that are taller than the basilica.

The Sistine Chapel is the only place at the Vatican that photography is not allowed. The frescoes were cleaned by the Japanese a few years ago, and they received exclusive photography rights for 20 years. However, the rest of the museums and hallways and basilica contain so much art, that there was no shortage of photo ops. There are over 70,000 pieces of art - frescoes, sculptures, tapestries, paintings, mosaics - on display, with 50,000 more in storage! The map paintings and tapestries were glorious! And we did get to see the Pieta by Michelangelo, which is in the basilica, although from a distance and behind glass since it had been attacked and damaged about 40 years ago. 

The Swiss Guard was chosen in 1506 to guard the Pope, and is the longest serving full-time military unit.

Detail from a map

Pieta by Michelangelo

St. Peter's Basilica dome

Swiss Guard

St. Peter's Square

Passageway ceiling. These are painted figures, not sculptures.
The relief is trompe l'oeil.

Tapestry of the resurrected Christ.

Ceiling paintings.

Map detail.

Jerusalem entry tapestry.

Raphael mosaic.

Mosaic dome.