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We took a well earned sleep-in today (8:30) followed by a leisurely scrambled egg breakfast cooked in our "chalet" while we plotted out the day ahead of us. Two buses run from the bus stop out the front, the 247 which terminates at the Vatican or the 246 which takes you to the metro stop. The starting point for our day was simply going to come down to whichever bus came first, it turned out to be the 247 to the Vatican and so our starting point was set!
We couldn't believe our good luck when we found the Vatican Museum had no line, this is extremely rare and so we jumped at the opportunity and headed straight in. Entry is €15 and gives you access to pretty much everything including the Sistine Chapel, although certain areas do close at various times of the day. We had dressed to ensure our clothing would allow us into all the sacred sites, you need to comply with the dress code in these sacred sites which normally only requires you to cover your shoulders and don't wear a hat.
As you can imagine the Vatican Museum is full of the most ancient of statues, the ceilings and walls are adorned with paintings and much of the flooring is made up of detailed mosaics consisting of countless tiny tiles. We saw as much as possible as we made our way towards the Sistine Chapel, the final hallway a masterpiece in itself.
Upon arriving inside the Chapel you are left bewildered at the sheer scope of it, the monumental task of painting it in this degree of detail is difficult to comprehend. The famous ceiling has everybody leaving with a crooked neck, but the end and side walls are just as impressive. There is a withered ghostlike human skin on an end wall, many believe this to have been painted as a kind of self-portrait depicting how exhausting this task was.
Upon heading for the exit we were amazed to see that there is currently an Aboriginal exhibition on display. Titled "Rituals of life" it takes you through the spirituality and culture of the Aboriginal people, a nice unexpected surprise in the Vatican Museum.
Having both been into St Peters Basilica on previous trips we decided to give it, and the 2hr lines, a miss this time, opting instead to take in the views of St Peters Square. Neither of us are religious but we can certainly appreciate the importance this holy place holds to those who are.
From here we headed down to Castle St Angelo a few hundred meters away, interestingly connected to the Vatican by both a tunnel and a path along the top of the old walls. Both old escape routes for Popes in times of trouble. This Castle has been many things throughout history including Papal residences, prison and defensive fort. From the top you get a fantastic view back up towards the square and allows you to really appreciate the entire scene.
We continued across the Tiber river towards Piazza Navona, with 3 impressive fountains and local artists selling their paintings it made for a nice stroll as we headed closer to the Pantheon. After a few more minutes and some helpful directions we were there, even with a map it's quite easy to lose your way in these streets. The Pantheon seems to jump from nowhere, the close knit streets meaning it doesn't reveal itself until the last minute, a deliberate street design to give the structure maximum impact.
Next up, the Trevi Fountain. Impressively big and flooded with other tourists this is a hot-spot for people visiting Rome. After finding some space by the fountains edge we took turns at throwing a coin over our shoulders thereby ensuring, as legend has it, our return to Rome in the future.
Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to build a large fountain in Trevi Square and after 30yrs construction it was finally finished in 1762. It was built at the end of an aqueduct from 19BC bringing the water 20km from the Salone Springs.
Finally we made our way further on to the Spanish Steps and after again getting ourselves a little misguided we arrived. Located in Piazza de Spagna they were built in the late 18th century to connect the square and the Trinità Church that sits on top of the hill. At the base is the famous Barcaccia fountain that depicts the flooding of the Tiber river in 1598 and is based on the folk legend of a ship that washed away in the flood only to be found on the spot where the fountain stands.
The steps are almost permanently covered with locals and tourists and in the spring it is the colours of the plants that take over. Whether from the top or the bottom, the Spanish Steps are a must see while you're here.
Unfortunately Rome, similar to Paris, has a significant issue with unlicensed street salesmen trying to force their goods onto you. Sheets are laid on the ground and all sorts of "knock off" goods are on show. We have no issue with this stuff being sold in market places, unfortunately these harassing salesmen now dominate all of the great sites of Rome, often right in the middle of the footpath. Saying "no" isn't enough with some of them as they try to force items like flowers, bags and sunglasses into your hands and then demand money. We found that being brutally blunt is the best method. Sarah has become extremely skilled at this, Alan would be so proud! Regrettably they really do take away from the great history surrounding you.
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