The Holy See

Today I spent the day dedicated to the Vatican City State. I started with the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Fortunately I had reserved a ticket ahead of time, otherwise I would have had to wait in an extremely long line, already formed by 9am!

As it was, I got in easily and was on my way through one of the most impressive museums I've ever seen. Apparently the Popes liked to collect lots of art, from Egyptian carvings and mummies dated to 2500 BC to marble busts and sculptures, tile mosaics, tapestries, hallways of maps, and Papal transport carriages!!!



The museum rooms are home to painted ceilings by Raphael and of course the Sistine Chapel by Michaelangelo. I could have stared at the ceiling for hours.

After the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, I went to St. Peter's Basilica. Wow. Huge. Along the way I saw Michaelangelo's Pieta, the impressive side chapels, a glimpse of the Papal treasury (had to pay to get in that one), and the Papal tombs. I also climbed to the top of the Basilica (over 400 steps!!) and viewed the church from above and the city from the outside!! What a magnificent day! Hopefully pictures will be downloaded soon...these ones will be nice!



And then we can't forget the Swiss guard...