The Bentleys: Vatican City

Day 2 -- Rome, Italy

{In the lobby of the hotel prior to Vatican City}

Today started very early with a cab ride to Vatican City for our private tour with a woman who calls Rome her home. Laura was an excellent guide as she refreshed my memory on things I had already known, but also introduced me to amazing pieces of art and history. After getting our tickets, we walked into the courtyard and though many hallways of the Vatican museum prior to entering the Sistine Chapel.

{Richard & John on the steps leading to Vatican City}

{The main garden center of Vatican City Museum}

{Entrance to museum}

{The hallway of maps}

After exploring the museum, we entered the Sistine Chapel. I didn't know what exactly to expect, but I was blown away by its beauty and detail. Before entering Laura gave us the history of both Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and Last Judgment since you have to remain quiet while in the room. I learned that it took 5 years to complete the ceiling by himself, which was a fresco painting (meaning it is wet and has to be painted rather quickly since it had to be completed prior to it drying). The most surprising thing I learned was that he didn't want any help, which was unheard of at that time because most artist had assistants, plus he only got paid once in 5 years as this task took all of his attention and time. He started his work in 1508, and the work was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV.

{Since you're not allowed to pictures inside the chapel, I took this picture from the internet because I was too nervous to take my own as the chapel was heavily monitored}

Along the middle of the ceiling, Michelangelo painted Nine scenes from the Book of Genesis:

1. Separation of Light and Darkness

2. Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Earth

3. Separation of Land and Water

4. Creation of Adam

5. Creation of Eve

6. Temptation and Expulsion

7. Sacrifice of Noah

8. The Great Flood

9. The Drunkenness of Noah

Then The Last Judgement took 8 years to complete and was also completed without help. This painting was also a fresco on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. It is the depiction of the Second Coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment by God. To us the most visual part of the painting is the man holding the skin of Michelangelo, which symbolizes Michelangelo's biggest critic who critiqued every aspect of the timing that it took Michelangelo to complete the painting (like the man's judgement is killing him alive).

{ I took this picture from the internet as well. The "skin" of Michelangelo is in the middle to the right. }

{John and I with our tour guide, Laura}

{At the top of Vatican City}

{Leaving the Sistine Chapel and heading into St. Peter's Basilica}

After the Sistine Chapel you walk into Saint Peter's Basilica. The grandeur of this church is indescribable. When you first walk in located to the right is "The Pieta" (1498-1499), which is the famous marble statue created by Michelangelo. Then you make your way to the center of the church and you see the alter where you always see the Pope during the Christmas Eve service. We also saw St. Pope John Paul II's tomb. His remains are on the main floor of the church unlike any other previous pope, which are located below the church, and that is because last year he was made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Below the church is where you see a section blocked off where Saint Peter's (one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ) bones are and the church was built on top of them.

After Vatican City we ate lunch in front of the Pantheon and then explored the inside of the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Piazza Navona has beautiful fountains, restaurants, and wonderful artists surrounding the center.

{Where we ate lunch}

{Enjoying lunch right outside the Pantheon}

{The best-preserved ancient building in Rome, the Pantheon, built in 126 AD}

{It was a little windy that day}

{A beautiful welcome to Piazza Navona}

{Couldn't get over the beautiful flowers on almost every balcony}

{Enjoying a little break by the fountains}

{The sweet artist who we bought 3 pieces from}

On our way back to our hotel, our taxi driver told us about a local favorite gelateria that was less then a block away from our hotel that was famous for wonderful homemade authentic gelato. As I said on the post prior, I would mention gelatos...well this is the big one. Anywhere in Italy you can find gelato, but most of it taste like the previous and is over priced. We normally paid 20 euros for four gelatos 1-2 scoops each. However, this local place that doesn't speak a lick of English served us the same portions for only 2 euros each. It was also the freshest and most delicious thing I had ever eaten. Day one I had strawberry (fragola) and melon (melone) then on day two I had coffee (caffe) and caramel (caramello). Even though the line was out of the door everyday, you couldn't help but love the excitement of a local favorite.

That night we ate at La Pentolaccia. I had a Pear insalata with creamy cheese slices and a balsamic glaze on top for an appetizer then spinach stuffed ravioli. To top it off, I shared a fruit tart with a lemon flavored crust.