Jul 24 / kandt

The Vatican & Rome (July 23rd)

The Vatican was spectacular. We visited the Vatican Museums early in the day. The paintings by Raphael in particular were incredible, all over the ceilings and the walls. Finally we reached the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo, with the creation and stories from the Bible on the ceiling and the Last Judgment on the wall. I found it all indescribably beautiful. Even Tim enjoyed it. We made the boys (who were less impressed – Josh kept asking why it was considered by most art critics to be the greatest work of art ever in the world) sit with us and admire it for a good half hour. There were masses of people, and Tim was nearly removed from the building as he had not seen the ‘no camera’ signs and was busy snapping away. The guard forced him to delete the pictures.

After the Vatican Museums we toured St Peter’s Basilica. It is a huge church, apparently taking up six acres of the Vatican’s 100. St Peter was martyred here upside down on a cross, and his bones are ‘almost certainly, maybe’ (according to our guide guru Rick Steves) buried here underneath the church. It is the second biggest church in the world, and certainly the grandest. It has a huge and beautiful dome that towers above. All around the church there were details in the design to make it appear smaller so it was more ‘intimate’ for its worshippers (as if anything that size could feel intimate!). The effect is that it looks big, but you do not really realise how big it actually is until you get outside the building. On the side as you enter the building sits Michelangelo’s Pieta behind glass. Michelangelo also designed the dome in the building. I found it hard to believe that we were actually seeing his statue and architectural work in front of us.

Our little hikers were all tired out after a mere two things were crossed off our list, so we headed home for a swim after a quick photo with one of the Swiss guards.

Today we were again up and away early, keen to do the rest of Rome and beat the queues at the Collesseum. We could not believe the thing when we rose up from the Metro station to see it. The boys were in awe of the building, and we had to drag Caleb through all the gladiators standing outside, trying to have their picture taken with him. After quite a long wait we ventured inside. It was amazing to see all the tunnels underneath the floor. After the initial impression however, the boys were more thrilled with their purchase of some gladiator soldiers from the gift shop! I was a bit disappointed that there were no museums inside to show gladiator costumes or artifacts from the games. I felt that we all could have learnt a lot from some re-enactments or showing how the tunnels and trapdoors worked. There was so much scope for more; but as Tim said, the organizers really did not have to do anything to promote the Collesseum with people clambering to get in all day.

After the Collesseum our little crew were exhausted again in the heat (it was extremely humid as well as hot today) and we hopped on our ‘hop on hop off’ bus tour. This took us on a trip around Rome, pointing out the famous sights. You get on or off where you want to go, but we just stayed the whole circuit, gradually recovering and enjoying the view. It was such a good thing to do that Tim and I have decided it will definitely be our first strategy when visiting other major cities. Although it can be expensive, it is too tiring to walk around for the kids. After finally hopping off and getting some lunch and the boys a haircut, we made our way to see the Pantheon. Another spectacular marvel that had a domed roof – this one open to let the sun in (and the rain!). Raphael the artist was buried there, as well as a few important leaders. It was beautifully symmetrical in design. On to Trevi fountain which was most impressive, and finally the Spanish Steps (less impressive). The whole city of Rome is filled with marvels; huge buildings, fountains and statues at every turn; 2500 year old obelisks from Egypt; and quieter and no less interesting narrow little backstreets. It is awesome to see, but at the same time grimy, chaotic and frustrating. There are masses of people here, all seeing the same things we are it seems! We squeezed ourselves into a public bus for the ride home, and were relieved to get back to our campsite. Tomorrow will be quieter as we all need a rest!