Rome, Italy - Travel Scrapbook
Danny and Simone's Travel Scrapbook of Rick Steves' 7-Day Best of Rome (and a little Paris too)
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Day 3: Renaissance Rome
We'll spend much of the day on the other side of the river Tiber, where the Vatican City beckons. We'll see the treasures of the Vatican Museum, including the sublime Sistine Chapel, and the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, with Michelangelo's moving Pieta and Bernini's amazing, seven-story bronze canopy. You'll have free time to explore the crypt or climb the dome for a fantastic vista. We'll meet in the early evening for dinner and a la dolce vita stroll (stopping to throw a few coins in the magical Trevi Fountain), as we enjoy the evening excitement that surrounds the Campo de' Fiori and Piazza Navona. Walking: strenuous.
RENAISSANCE ROME
Breakfast is at 7am and the group leaves for the Metro at 7:20am. Our destination stop is Ottaviano. In line for the Vatican, Lisa gives us an orientation to the Vatican Museum.
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The Vatican City Wall |
Once inside, Lisa gets tickets while the group visits the “facilities”.
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Ticket - Front and Back |
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Vatican City Courtyard |
Vatican City Courtyard |
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Danny listens as Lisa gives an overview of the Sistine Chapel |
Danny in the Hall of Busts |
We skip the Egyptian exhibit. We walk past the Hall of Busts, into the Map room. Lisa points out the area of the village she lives in in Italy. We tour the Raphael rooms.
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Apollo (Greek) |
Roman copy of Greek statue Laocoon |
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Hercules seated on a lion skin |
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Marble bath tub |
Mosaic floor |
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Domed ceiling in museum |
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Michelangelo's Pietŕ |
The highlight of the Vatican Museum is the Sistine Chapel – too awesome to describe. No cameras are allowed nor speaking in the Sistine Chapel. However, the ceiling evokes whispering, which increases to a low murmur then to a low roar — at least until the museum personnel issues a “silence” that lasts a short moment before the whispering begins again.
We go into the St. Peter’s Basilica. Lisa gives an overview – St. Peter’s can hold 60,000 persons!
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Lisa and Simone in St. Peter’s Basilica |
St. Peter’s Basilica |
We have the afternoon to explore. Lisa bids us goodbye.
Danny, Ladonna and I stand in a very long line to climb the cupola or dome of St. Peter’s Basilica for $7€. We are happy when our turn finally comes to take the elevator mid-way, then we walk the 320 steps (no longer quite as happy) to the top.
Heed Rick’s advice and get in shape.
Great views – great pictures. Enjoy!
View from the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica
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Simone climbing the Cupola (Dome) |
The view from St. Peter's Basilica |
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The view from St. Peter's Basilica |
The view from St. Peter's Basilica |
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The view from St. Peter's Basilica |
The view from St. Peter's Basilica |
The Crypt (a.k.a. Grottoes)
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Walking down from the cupola, I pass a tomb for S. Simone. Next, we tackle the Crypt where 265 popes are buried. My doctored-up (spiral bound, multi-colored highlighted) Rome 2006 book was left on the stone bench we sat on just prior to leaving the Crypt (a.k.a. Grottoes). John Paul II has a simple white slab to mark his burial site. |
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Simone meets Simone |
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St. Peter's Tomb |
John Paul II's Tomb |
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Swiss Guards (traditional Medici blue, red and yellow) |
Standing in St. Peter's Square |
Night Walk
We meet the group this evening and take the bus to Largo Argentina near the Spanish Steps for dinner. Reservations are at 7:30pm.
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The Pantheon ceiling at night |
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Hadrian’s Temple.... |
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Night walk - Hadrian's Temple |
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Trevi Fountain .... |
| Night walk - Trevi Fountain |
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Trevi Fountain .... |
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Simone and Danny at the Trevi Fountain |
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Bernini's House.... |
| Night walk - Bernini's House |
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Night Walk... |
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Night Walking |
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Spanish Steps.... |
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Night walk - view from the top of the Spanish Steps |
Dinner tonight is at Bar Gelateria Ristorante Viale Trinita Del Monti Ciampini. We have a private room up elevated by a few steps with a wonderful view of St. Peter’s dome and another domed building (don’t know the name).
Both Lisa and Jon and Diane offer up a replacement Rome 2006 book. During the dinner conversation, Jon recommends The Egyptian by Mika Waltari, a historical fiction novel. [Haven't gotten it yet....]
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Bar Gelateria Ristorante Viale Trinita Del Monti Ciampini |
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Night view from the restaurant |
