The Vatican

Today, we journeyed to a whole other country - The Vatican City. What an experience! When we arrived at St. Peter's Basilica there was something going on outside - maybe a mass. Lots of people. We decided to go to the Vatican Museum first because it closes early on Saturdays. The line was massive - maybe a 1 1/2 to 2 hour wait. About ten minutes before it closed we were still about a good 45 minutes away in line when a guard came up to us and asked us if we were Italian. We said that no we were American and he said we should follow him and he took us straight to the front of the line and ushered us inside. I told Andy that I thought that his mom placed a call to someone to get us in (she works for the church), but no - it was because we had a baby that we got the special treatment. Miracle! If that didn't happen, my dad would have gone home without seeing the Sistine Chapel.



Inside the Vatican Museum:


The Sala Rotunda:

Gallery of the Maps:

The Sistine Chapel: These are a littl bit blurry. We weren't really supposed to take pictures in here, but everyone was. The guards would come up and yell at you if they caught you so you had to be quick. Here is the painting of the Last Judgement by Michelangelo:

The famous ceiling:

Exiting the museum:


Then it was back to the Basilica, where a sign outside told you how to dress appropriately:

Inside the Basilica:

Michelangelo's Pieta, which he sculpted when he was only 24 years old:

Bernini's Baldacchino - the baroque canopy cast from the bronze that was stolen from the porch of the Pantheon:

The dome:

Bronze statue of St. Peter - Catholic pilgrims rub the foot of this statue to give thanks for arriving in Rome safely:

St. Peter's at sunset: