Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, ItalyMonths ago arranged on-line a Skip the Lines/Early Admit Tour with City Wonders for Early Access Tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peters Basilica.
Left the hotel at 7 am. Short walk to Bus Stop #492 to go to Leone stop. We were the only people on bus, and the very nice driver dropped us off right at the street to the museum so we didn't have to walk the several blocks. Long line of people waiting to get tickets for the general tour. Glad we booked ahead.
Caffe Vaticano across the street from tour entrance and where we were meeting the guide. Enough time to get coffee & croissant, which were way overpriced. 8:10-met Guide Donatella and our group of 12 people; audio headsets, everything very organized. Early Admit Tour sounded like you would beat the crowds; however, there were lots and lots of these tours. At least our group was small.
Began tour going through entrance into large area where Donatella used a Vatican City diagram to explain the different buildings. Great views of Quadrato Gardens and St Peters Dome.
Courtyard of the Pine Cone statue dominated the immediate approach to the Basilica. The impressive Pine Cone Statue was created during Ancient Roman times, when it was used as a water fountain and stood outside the Pantheon.
The 13-ft bronze "Sphere within a Sphere" in the center of the square appeared golden with the sun shining on it. "Gives the impression that it is reflecting the complexity of our world and how easily it can be torn apart."
Placard Photos of scenes painted in the Sistine Chapel were set up in the courtyard. Since you aren't supposed to talk in the Sistine Chapel, Donatella explained the scenes we would be seeing.
Left the hotel at 7 am. Short walk to Bus Stop #492 to go to Leone stop. We were the only people on bus, and the very nice driver dropped us off right at the street to the museum so we didn't have to walk the several blocks. Long line of people waiting to get tickets for the general tour. Glad we booked ahead.
Caffe Vaticano across the street from tour entrance and where we were meeting the guide. Enough time to get coffee & croissant, which were way overpriced. 8:10-met Guide Donatella and our group of 12 people; audio headsets, everything very organized. Early Admit Tour sounded like you would beat the crowds; however, there were lots and lots of these tours. At least our group was small.
Began tour going through entrance into large area where Donatella used a Vatican City diagram to explain the different buildings. Great views of Quadrato Gardens and St Peters Dome.
Courtyard of the Pine Cone statue dominated the immediate approach to the Basilica. The impressive Pine Cone Statue was created during Ancient Roman times, when it was used as a water fountain and stood outside the Pantheon.
The 13-ft bronze "Sphere within a Sphere" in the center of the square appeared golden with the sun shining on it. "Gives the impression that it is reflecting the complexity of our world and how easily it can be torn apart."
Placard Photos of scenes painted in the Sistine Chapel were set up in the courtyard. Since you aren't supposed to talk in the Sistine Chapel, Donatella explained the scenes we would be seeing.
VATICAN MUSEUMS
So immense that guided tours are highly recommended. Exhibitions are housed within three floors of rooms and galleries. The masterpieces are one of the world's richest art collections. About an hour was spent in the museums, and some of the highlights for us were the following. Started in Egyptian Museum.
So immense that guided tours are highly recommended. Exhibitions are housed within three floors of rooms and galleries. The masterpieces are one of the world's richest art collections. About an hour was spent in the museums, and some of the highlights for us were the following. Started in Egyptian Museum.
Galleria degli Arazzi: Tapestries lined the corridor, one side depicting the Life of Jesus; the other side the Life of the Pope. Took 5-6 years to make one tapestry.
On the "Resurrection of Jesus" one, his eyes followed as you walked. Another one, the table changes direction as you walk.
Galleria delle Carte Geografiche (Gallery of Maps): WOW! The long golden corridor is adorned with 40 frescoes of maps detailing the Italian regions that existed during the time of Pope Gregory XIII. A history lesson and geography class all in one place.
Between the maps are windows with beautiful garden views.
Immaculate Conception room dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The Stanze are 4 Raphael rooms. Raphael Sanzio is considered one of greatest Italian Renaissance painters. The Segnatura Room contains Raphael's most famous works that represent his debut in the Vatican and mark the beginning of the High Renaissance. The frescoes, painted between 1508-1511, symbolize a summary of the knowledge of his time.
On the "Resurrection of Jesus" one, his eyes followed as you walked. Another one, the table changes direction as you walk.
Galleria delle Carte Geografiche (Gallery of Maps): WOW! The long golden corridor is adorned with 40 frescoes of maps detailing the Italian regions that existed during the time of Pope Gregory XIII. A history lesson and geography class all in one place.
Between the maps are windows with beautiful garden views.
Immaculate Conception room dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The Stanze are 4 Raphael rooms. Raphael Sanzio is considered one of greatest Italian Renaissance painters. The Segnatura Room contains Raphael's most famous works that represent his debut in the Vatican and mark the beginning of the High Renaissance. The frescoes, painted between 1508-1511, symbolize a summary of the knowledge of his time.
SISTINE CHAPEL
No photos. Visually UNBELIEVABLE, even with the amount of people crammed together. Allowed 15 minutes inside. Each surface of the chapel is adorned floor to ceiling with stunning frescoes depicting biblical scenes from the Last Judgment to Noah’s Ark. Michelangelo's incomparable Sistine Chapel ceiling fresco is even more spectacular than anticipated. He painted 9 important events from the Book of Genesis down the center of the ceiling, the most famous being God giving Adam life with the touching of their two finger tips.
Walked along the outside to the Basilica's front entrance. Daniella highlighting things as we went. ~ Holy Door panels portray scenes of man's sin and his redemption through God's mercy. ~Balcony where Pope gives mass on Wednesday mornings. ~Famous balcony situated at the center of St. Peter's Cathedral where the Pope periodically delivers his a blessing. ~The columns along the square were from the Colosseum; they collapsed during an earthquake and were taken here.
No photos. Visually UNBELIEVABLE, even with the amount of people crammed together. Allowed 15 minutes inside. Each surface of the chapel is adorned floor to ceiling with stunning frescoes depicting biblical scenes from the Last Judgment to Noah’s Ark. Michelangelo's incomparable Sistine Chapel ceiling fresco is even more spectacular than anticipated. He painted 9 important events from the Book of Genesis down the center of the ceiling, the most famous being God giving Adam life with the touching of their two finger tips.
Walked along the outside to the Basilica's front entrance. Daniella highlighting things as we went. ~ Holy Door panels portray scenes of man's sin and his redemption through God's mercy. ~Balcony where Pope gives mass on Wednesday mornings. ~Famous balcony situated at the center of St. Peter's Cathedral where the Pope periodically delivers his a blessing. ~The columns along the square were from the Colosseum; they collapsed during an earthquake and were taken here.
ST. PETER'S BASILICA
- The current church (built over an original 4th-century basilica) was one of the grandest construction projects ever attempted in the Renaissance, taking over 120 years to complete when it was finally consecrated in 1626. It’s still the largest Christian church anywhere on earth, capable of holding 60,000 worshipers at once.
Tour inside was about half an hour where Donatella explained some of the most notable things. This wasn't enough time so we came back after climbing the dome and spent another hour or so. The grandiosity of the building is overwhelming!
Chapels are on both sides of the nave.The First chapel to the right of the entrance was Michelangelo's Pieta created when he was just 20 out of one piece of marble.
At the very center of the church is Michelangelo’s Dome with shiny gold mosaics illustrated with many holy figures, topped with God surrounded by angels.
Bernini’s Baldachin, is enormous and another focal point of the church. The large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy has four 4 pillars 60 feet high over the high altar, shaped like a cross centered over St Peter's tomb.
Chapels are on both sides of the nave.The First chapel to the right of the entrance was Michelangelo's Pieta created when he was just 20 out of one piece of marble.
At the very center of the church is Michelangelo’s Dome with shiny gold mosaics illustrated with many holy figures, topped with God surrounded by angels.
Bernini’s Baldachin, is enormous and another focal point of the church. The large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy has four 4 pillars 60 feet high over the high altar, shaped like a cross centered over St Peter's tomb.
- Saint Peter’s Basilica was literally built on top Saint Peter’s grave, who martyred during the reign of the emperor Nero, around the year 67 or 68 AD. He was crucified upside down in the Circus of Nero, which was located in the exact same area where the Basilica and Square stand today.
Side Chapels were also amazing:
Highly recommend a tour, even though a bit costly. Our guide gave so much insight about the basilica making the experience of seeing this important religious site much more meaningful.
DOME CLIMB
The tallest dome in history. Choice 320 steps or an elevator to the base of the dome. For only 2 extra Euros, a no-brainer for us on this hot afternoon. Elevator exits onto the roof and you walk across to the dome entrance.
Astonishing moment looking at the beauty of the cupola from within and looking down at the basilica. The letters in mosaic tile going around the base look small from the floor below but in reality are 6 feet high! “Tu es Petrus et super hang petram aedificabo ecclesiam mean et tibi dabo claves caelorum” (You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church).
The fenced balcony around the base gave an interesting perspective on the sheer size of everything. Beautiful mosaics line the walls. Seeing this up close--so worth it!
Cupola Top: What an experience getting to the very top. Climb a narrow single-file 281 steps that slowly spirals up, with the roof slanting in towards you as you go, getting narrower and narrower toward the very end, then a corkscrew staircase with a rope to hang onto climbing the last steps out onto the observation walkway.
Lots of people. Worth every step for the 360o panorama views; best views in the city!-- different perspective and the most stunning panorama of St. Peter’s Square.
Spent about half an hour enjoying the views, then the crazy stairway down exiting on the huge rooftop area. What a perfect place to be near the dome and cupola.
There are restrooms, gift shop, and best of all a cafe with cold drinks and ice cream. Great place to sit and enjoy a coke and magnum bar. Walked around the rooftop, getting up close to the Apostle statues lined along the roof line. Elevator back down that exited right inside the basilica.
Tomb of Popes: 91 popes are entombed under the Basilica as well as some cardinals and other notables. The images carved of stone were amazing. No photos allowed.
Exited the Basilica through the "Door of Death" (called this because at one time it was the exit for funeral processions).
The Basilica stretches an incredible 480 feet in length so even on this very busy summer day it didn't feel overcrowded. The church’s structure, its dome, dazzling mosaics, and its artwork left us awe-struck.
ST. PETER'S SQUARE (Piazza San Pietro)
Lots of people. Worth every step for the 360o panorama views; best views in the city!-- different perspective and the most stunning panorama of St. Peter’s Square.
Spent about half an hour enjoying the views, then the crazy stairway down exiting on the huge rooftop area. What a perfect place to be near the dome and cupola.
There are restrooms, gift shop, and best of all a cafe with cold drinks and ice cream. Great place to sit and enjoy a coke and magnum bar. Walked around the rooftop, getting up close to the Apostle statues lined along the roof line. Elevator back down that exited right inside the basilica.
Tomb of Popes: 91 popes are entombed under the Basilica as well as some cardinals and other notables. The images carved of stone were amazing. No photos allowed.
Exited the Basilica through the "Door of Death" (called this because at one time it was the exit for funeral processions).
The Basilica stretches an incredible 480 feet in length so even on this very busy summer day it didn't feel overcrowded. The church’s structure, its dome, dazzling mosaics, and its artwork left us awe-struck.
ST. PETER'S SQUARE (Piazza San Pietro)
- Bordered on two sides by Bernini’s Colonnade, two lines of majestic Doric columns shaped in a semi-circular, which according to Bernini, symbolize the stretched arms of the church embracing the world. The colonnade is crowned with the Chigi coats of arms and 140 statues of saints. At the center is the 82-ft high ancient Egyptian Obelisk, which was carried to Rome from Egypt in 1586. Two fountains, one from Bernini in 1675 and another from Maderno in 1614.
Walked down Via della Conciliazione, the impressive street leading to the Vatican, bordered by a number of historical and religious buildings.
At Piazza Pia was a beautiful white marble St Catherine monument.
Ponte Sant'Angelo Bridge (Bridge of Angels) Hard to believe we are walking across such an ancient piece of history.
- Completed in 134 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian. Guarding the bridge at one end is Castel Sant'Angelo. Statues of Saints Peter and Paul are at the end of the arched bridge. In 1688, 10 statues of angels, designed by Bernini, were mounted on the parapets.
Wonderful looking both directions along the Tiber River with a great view of the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II Bridge.
Always enjoyable walking through the narrow side streets and entering interesting squares. Street market in Campo de'Fiori around the central statue of Giordano Bruno.
Stopped for homemade pasta at Osteria Da Fortunate. Delightful street-side table along via del Pellegrino. Starving hungry, we certainly enjoyed the strozzapreti-carbonara and fiori di zucca guanciole pescorine (zuccini, flour pasta, bacon, cheese).
Stopped at a grocery store and collapsed in the hotel room.
Found a tour on the internet for the Colosseum and Forum for tomorrow.
Enjoyed spending a bit of time talking about Rome with the lady at the desk and her friend staying here.
Early to bed; another full day of sightseeing tomorrow.
Stopped for homemade pasta at Osteria Da Fortunate. Delightful street-side table along via del Pellegrino. Starving hungry, we certainly enjoyed the strozzapreti-carbonara and fiori di zucca guanciole pescorine (zuccini, flour pasta, bacon, cheese).
Stopped at a grocery store and collapsed in the hotel room.
Found a tour on the internet for the Colosseum and Forum for tomorrow.
Enjoyed spending a bit of time talking about Rome with the lady at the desk and her friend staying here.
Early to bed; another full day of sightseeing tomorrow.
2025-05-22