The Vatican

With 25,000 steps showing on my pedometer, including over 500 steps to climb to the top of St. Peter's dome, I guess one could say that we had a busy day.

We started early, despite the jet lag, for a very nice guided tour of the Vatican. The skip-the-line tickets were worth the expense at this very popular site.

St. Peter's

The tour started with the outside grounds and then into the Vatican Museum, which used to be the residence of the popes. Rooms after rooms were filled with antique sculptures, tapestries, painting, including the most up-to-date maps of the known world back in the early 1600's, and of course, Raphael's stunning frescoes. Here's a small sample of of the wonderful stuff we saw.

Bronze pine cone from Roman antiquity

Interesting sculpture of an antique goddess of fertility with a necklace made of bull testicles.

A sample of fine antique sculptures

Some of the paintings still preserved stunning colors

Raphael with his black hat looking at us in this detail of The School of Athens.

Our visit then continued to the Sistine Chapel where we were able to admire the spectacular frescoed ceiling and altar wall painted by Michelangelo.

Picture taking was not allowed inside the Chapel, but someone decided not to follow the rules...

We then went inside St. Peter's Basilica, where we were able to admire Michelangelo's Pieta, Bernini's baldacchino, and the dome from the inside.

Perhaps the finest sculpture ever made.

An obscene amount of ancient Roman bronze was "recycled" to make this Baroque masterpiece.

Designed by Michelangelo, but only completed after his death.

After the official tour was done, we climbed the stairs leading all the way up to the lantern capping the dome, which afforded us a great view of the city from it's highest point.

All the way up to the top.

St. Peter's Square from above.

The Vatican Gardens and some official buildings.

We were able to get close to these large statue lining up the edge of the basilica.

Tristan posing in front of the dome from the rooftop level.

This certainly filled our first full morning in the city. And we certainly deserved the refreshing wine and gelato that followed.

Mario