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On our trip to Rome after visiting the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, our tour took us to the Vatican City and to say that the views were vibrant is an understatement! As it is the head of the Catholic Church, it is worth the trip for everyone regardless of your religion.
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Vatican City
The Vatican City is the smallest country with a two-mile city border with approximately 109 acres within it’s borders. The population of it’s inhabitants is 764 (as of this writing). The wealth of the Vatican City is $16 million, which is quite numerous when consider the figure per person or per acre. There is no entrance fee to the Vatican.
On the tour that we took, we visited the Vatican which has 25 museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica Church, and Peter’s square which is the surrounding grounds of the property at the complex. Photos can be taken at the Vatican City with the exception of the Sistine Chapel. There is a dress code out of respect and it applies to both men and women. The clothing needs to cover visitors’ knees and upper arms. The code prohibits wearing shorts or skirts above the knee, sleeveless tops, and low-cut shirts. If visiting, please dress accordingly.
The Vatican
The first picture is a side view of the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica Church looking on from Peter’s Square. The second picture is looking straight at the church with chairs set up in the square for a special service. The Pope would step onto the balcony on the second floor to give the sermon. The third picture is walking inside one of the rooms in the Vatican.
It is amazing to see the artwork arranged where no amount of space is left empty. That is definitely a difference between the States and European countries. The sun shining through the window onto the artwork gives you a heavenly feeling. Of the 25 museums at the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel is the most popular. Just like any museum, you have a chance to stop by the gift shop if you would like.
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel displays artwork in the form of frescoes that introduce us into the world of the contents of the book of Revelation. The first picture is leading you to the Sistine Chapel. You spend a great amount of time looking up and admiring the artwork as you can see clearer in the second photograph. The main room of the Sistine Chapel is a rectangular shaped room with artwork on all four walls and the ceiling. The day that we were there, you were lined up in groups and were packed in the chapel. For any amateur photographers in the groups, you are itching to take photos of the magnificent artwork, however respect is required by all and security guards are there to make sure that the rules are followed.
The ceiling in the chapel was not painted by Leonardo da Vinci and painted by Michelangelo. Michangelo did not want to paint the chapel as he had a paranoid suspicion that the whole scheme had been cooked up by his enemies to give him an opportunity to fail on the grandest scale and they were trying to embarrass him. One of the misnomers is that Michelangelo painted the ceiling on his back. That is untrue and he used a scaffolding system. Michelangelo was required to paint the ceiling as a punishment. The walls were painted by several leading artists in the 15th century. While in the Sistine Chapel, you are allowed to speak in a whisper and no higher decibels due to so many people in the chapel at once.
St. Peter’s Bascilica and Peters’ Ground
St. Peter’s Bascilica is the biggest and most important church in the Catholic Church. The admission is free, however, there is a two-hour queue upon your admission. It takes that long to explore the church. You can climb the dome either by stairs or by elevator for a nominal fee. The first two pictures are inside the church. The church is breath-taking and you are in awe of its beauty! While we were there, a church service was under way in the front part of the church. It is a different feeling to witness. They have both a church service and a tour going on at the same time to accommodate the crowds.
The remaining pictures are of Peter’s Ground. There is an obelisk in the center of the grounds with two concentric circles with pillars leading the way to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. While walking around the grounds after the tour, there is an enormous amount of pidgeons that you have to dodge their droppings.
If you are in Rome doing sightseeing, it is well worth a stop at the Vatican City to view the beauty of the artwork and hear about the history of the Vatican City. A part of international travel is experiencing different cultures and the Vatican City does not disappoint!!
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