The Vatican and more of Rome

We've been home for a few months now and still find ourselves saying "I want to go back to Italy". We had a really great time there. I hope one day to return. Until then I will stare at these pictures and dream.

We went to the Vatican first thing in the morning on our 4th day. Thankfully we had purchased our tickets before leaving for Italy, because the line was LONG. We walked past all those sad people waiting and the silly tour groups with their ridiculous tour leaders holding colorful frilly flags. There was so much to see inside. You could spend days inside the Vatican and never see it all. Here are a few of our favorite things.

Laocoon and his Sons 

Eros Lysippos Mask

It was raining buckets outside so we were glad we had picked this day to tour the inside of the Vatican. With so much to see it was hard to take it all in. There were so many beautiful statues, masks, busts, paintings, frescos, mosaics, etc. Not to mention the architecture of the building that houses it all is art itself. We were amazed at how much we saw and wished we could have spent a few days there to see it all and absorb what we saw.

It's me! Across the octagonal court.

Venus Felix

Antiquity mask 

Me mimicking the face.

The gallery of statues

Awesome cheetah sculpted out of wood

Beautiful Frescoes

Sala Rotunda 

Discobolus- discus thrower 

So many people!!!

Raphael's Room of Constantine- Baptism of Constantine 

Raphael's Room of Constantine- Battle of Constantine against Maxentius

Raphael's Room of the Segnatura- School of Athens 

After the Raphael Rooms it took quite awhile to make our way into the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling was breathtaking. I was amazed at how tall the room was and how large each panel must be. Sadly no photos were allowed. 

Internet stock photo

Beautiful statue in the Collection of Modern Religious Art Rooms

 Van Gogh- Pieta, after Delacroix

After so many rooms and crowds it was nice to sit in the garden and reflect on some of the amazing things we saw. Also, there was a fabulous view of the dome on St. Peters Basilica.  

fountain

walking along the Vatican wall 

we found space invader along the walk too

After the Vatican we walked over to St. Peter's Basilica and wondered around St. Peter's Square. The rain clouds of the day had disappeared and it had turned into a lovely afternoon. We waited in line eating basil, tomato, and mozzarella sandwiches on focaccia. Yum! 

Statue of St. Paul

The entryway to St. Peter's Basilica

Bernini- Papal alter and Baldacchino

Raphael- Alter of Transfiguration

close-up image of the mosaic 

We couldn't pass up the chance to hike to the top of the dome. 

The walkway around the dome was covered in a beautiful mosaic

view of the square from the top

Rome is a beautiful city

Looking back at the dome

really handsome boy

 Michelangelo- Chapel of the Pieta

ceiling

Vatican guards

We decided our second to last stop for the day was the Pantheon.

The Pantheon

ceiling with light coming through the oculus

On our way to the metro station we stopped at one final destination. We passed by the beautiful fountains at Piazza Navona and enjoyed a gelato.

It was a Perfect Day!!