Day #4 Rome (day 2)

These are pictures of our 2nd and last day in Rome. We went to the St. Peter's Bascilica and the Vatican Museum then spent the rest of the evening roaming the streets and enjoying our surroundings of Italy and the people.

A lot of the information we have is from "Rick Steves" who was our tour guide through all of our Europe trip.

Waiting in line outside of St. Peter's Basilica. The church was started in 1506 and finished 120 years later. They had big screen T.V.'s and lots of chairs set up because the Pope was performing mass on Sunday.

Another view of St. Peter's Basilica outside. Yes that is the line stretching around.

The atrium into St. Peter's Basilica. It has 5 famous bronze doors. One entrance is the Holy door and it is only opened on Holy Years every 25 years.

The Holy Door, featuring Jesus and Mary on the top panel, Paul and Peter in the Middle, and how they were martyred at the bottom.

This is the main dome of St Peter's. It is over 430 ft high.

This is the main alter where the Pope performs Mass. It is also the tomb of Peter. (sorry for the fuzzy pictures, deal with it)

A view of the church. Also a view of the bronze statue of Peter.

At the front of the church is 'The Apse'. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove (6 ft wide) shine down on the Throne of Peter. Statues of 4 early Church Fathers support the chair.

A view from the main door to the front of the alter. Over 2 football fields away. Yes it was big and beautiful.

A sculpture inside the church. Stacy and I thought this was incredible. Look the marble work put into this.

After touring the Basilica, we went through the Vatican Museum. We saw a lot of famous painting and sculptures these and few of the ones that impressed us the most.

This painting covered the entire wall. It was painted by Raphael in 1520 in the Pope's private study. The painting is called 'The School of Athens' showing Plato and Aristotle and other 'thinkers'. After he walked down the hall and seen what Michelangelo was painting i nthe Sistine Chapel, he painted Michelangelo in the front leaning on a block. There were several other rooms completely covered in painting but this one was our favorite.

Unfortunely we were not allowed to take pictures of the Sistine Chapel. It was very incredible.

A famous sculpture, I think.

This is the the 'Laocoon' statue found in 1506 what they were uncovering parts of the Roman Forum. It is a Greek statue carved in the fourth century, and was an inspiration to Michaelangelo.

The 'Belvedere Torso'. Michealangelo admired the sculture and used this in the body of Jesus in his last judgement painting in the Sistine Chapel. This sculpture is the remains of an ancient statue of me (or Hercules) seated on a lion skin.

This is the famous sculture by Michangelo called the "Pieta". It shows Mary holding the dead body of Christ made in 1500. This was in St Peter's Biscilica.

A view the Vatican gardens.

This is my wifes favorite. A statue of the 'God of Fertility'. I will let you figure out the rest.

After the museum we climbed the Dome of St Peter's Biscilica.

This is a picture of the upper portion of the dome. These pictures are put together with thousands of little tiles. We was impressed.

Climbing the Dome. Mom this would have drove you crazy.

A view of the Sistine Chapel from the top of the dome. The smoke comes out of the small chimney on the left (I think). Jim and Julie please correct me if I am wrong.

The dome is the highest point in Roma, So the pictures were good.

Looking towards the Monument (white) and the Colosseum on the right of the Monument.

St Peter's Square

Then we began our walk home. Back to more fountains and monuments. This one was called Piazza del Popolo. (wow)

The night life.

The tradional north enterance to Roma and brought here from Egypt in 1589.

A tradional Bath used by the Roman. (we think, sounds good anyway)

So that concluded our time in Roma. We flew out the next morning to Venica to meet up with Justin and Emily.