Vatican City

We were so impressed with our tour guide Jonothan yesterday that we decided to stalk him and go on his Vatican tour this morning. We had been told that on Saturdays in summer the lines would be horrible – and they were (and to top it off most of them were in the blazing Roman sun and people were boiling to death). Luckily as part of a tour group we got to jump the cue.

The Vatican museums held the most impressive array of art, sculpture and tapestries that we have ever seen. Jonothan also told us the story of how Michaelangelo came to be the painter of the Sistine Chappel, which we visited at the end of the museum tour.

Raphaelś last masterpiece - the resurection

A tapestry version of DaVincis last supper

Try talking a bath in a $1Billion dollar purple marble bath – one of the Roman Treasures from the Casa di Liva (house of Liva – emperor Augustus’ wife) from Palatine hill – remember those treasures that rolled down the hill after the earthquake, this was one of ‘em.

Big arse bath - $1billion please

The museum also housed many Roman sculptures believed to give inspiration to the great renaissance painters and sculptors. So the story of Michaelangelo, originally schooled in Florence, once discovered the popes couldn’t get enough of him and so dragged him to Rome where they nearly flogged him to death with all of the work they commissioned. Some though wanted to see him fail and so when painting of the Sistine chapel was required they suggested him. Up until this time Michaelangelo was exclusively a sculptor, so they thought they would set him up. On the side Raphael (later to become great friends with Michaelangelo) a Roman had actually been earmarked to come in and save the day, proving Romes superiority over Florence. We all know how it turned out, Michaelangelo turning out to also having serious painting talent and hence the ceiling we know today.

What is considered to be the most perfect torso ever sculpted - basis for Michaelangelos last judgement and Rodins thinker

Roman scupture of Apollo - considered to be what Micahelangelo based the face of Jesus in the last judgement on (as well as David - see the resemblence)

Ceiling in the Vatican museum map room

From the museums and Chapel next stop was probably the most famous site in the Vatican – St Peters Basilica. WOW! What a place. Dave said it was indescribably incredible. Every nook and cranny has some amazing piece of art or sculpture covering its surface – obviously the Catholics spared no expense on this one.

The ceiling inside St Peters

Michaelangelos Pieta

Dave admiring the St Peters view - soaking up all that good Catholic-ness

Above the main alter

The monument for St Peters relics under the main alter

Some plaque to do with Pope John Paul II - not sure exactly what is was but they have things dedicated to him EVERYWHERE! (more than to Pope Benedict)

Outside we watched the changing of the swiss guards in their lairy get up and then went in search of a Vatican euro (requested from Tom and Bec) which we failed at.

St Peters Square



One of the Popes Swiss Guards



We came to the centre of the Piazza San Pietro and admired the central obelisk and surrounding wind plaques on the ground made famous by Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons.

From here we found lunch and shade in a quiet back street where we lingered until it was time to once again stalk Jonothan for a mysteries of Rome tour later in the day.

The square and St Peters

Mmmm lunch!