Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
"Guided tours in Engrish!"
Vatican City today. Got there on the shuttle bus from the campsite, and after being dropped off around the back of the City, we walked around to find a massive queue snaking around St Peter's Square. We decided this was for the museum, so we went to the Basilica instead and practically walked through the queue. We found we could go up the dome for 5€, so we did. There were more steps than the Florence dome, but they weren't as difficult. The view from the top was good, but not as good as in Florence. It was quite hazy, so the best views were of St Peter's Square. The interior of the Basilica is easily the most impressive and ornate of any church we have visited. It is littered with works by Michelangelo, and there is art everywhere you turn.
We had been warned about queues for the Vatican Museum, but found that we could walk into the rear entrance with virtually no line, and we managed to get student discount. There are people trying to get you on their museum tours all the way down the street, which got very frustrating. Inside, the sheer number of tours were the only reason for overcrowding. Definitely recommended to do it alone. There are Egyptian, Roman and Greek displays, and 4 rooms plastered in full wall & ceiling Rafael paintings. The Map Room was another highlight - a corridor full of painted maps of areas of Italy, all with a fully decorated ceiling of intricate paintings. The museum is laid out well, as you have to go through several rooms of art before you get to the Sistine Chapel, so you can't really do the touristy thing of seeing the famous bit and then going. The Chapel was obviously impressive, but like the Mona Lisa, it has become primarily a tourist magnet. The room is meant to be sacred, with no photography or talking, but this isn't the case in reality. The stewards were constantly sh-ing everyone, and I managed to sneak a photo of The Creation. Lastly, we went to a display of Papal cars and carriages, and saw some Popemobiles
After the Museum we were already exhausted, but we walked through Rome in sweltering heat towards the Pantheon, via Piazza Navona, which has a fantastic obelisk centred fountain. We had ice cream here too. Finally we got to the Pantheon. Anna liked this and is looking forward to more 'Roman stuff' tomorrow. It's free to get into and provides good shelter from the sun. Rafael's tomb is in there, as well as more fantastic sculptures and paintings.
Afterwards, we walked for an hour back to the bus stop, but missed the bus by seconds. We were totally exhausted, so bought Metrobus tickets and got back to the campsite the way we arrived yesterday. Went to the supermarket opposite and bought some cherries and cooled off in the pool.
- comments