vatican city

7/2/15

Morning came around way to quickly. Before we knew it it was 8 am and then 8.30 am and time to get up. We got dressed and headed into the kitchen where pastries and fresh made cappuccinos were waiting (best hostel ever right? ). Anyways we set off about 9.45 after sitting and chatting to others at the hostel (sucking out their knowledge) and figuring out where and how to get there.

As instructed we caught the train from san Giovanni Train st to Ottaviano S. Pietro in the direction of towards Battistini.  It cost a whole 1.50 euro for 100 mins of travel.

The Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world, by both area and population.  It is approximately 44 hectares, with a population of just 842.   

We had been instructed not to go to the Vatican City until about 12ish to miss the crowds. It was still just after ten so we wasted some time shopping g and buying souvenirs. However when we had wasted about 15 mins and we were at the walls of the Vatican, we decided to go check the line and see if we need to waste more time and come back. It turns out it was empty and we walked straight in.

Security 

Immediately inside was airport security. Literally no joke. Full Metal detectors xray machines and cloak room for prohibited items such as umbrellas. Once we got through there ( no one took my umbrella???) We headed upstairs to buy tickets. Full price was 16 euro and student price was 8. They actually accepted my student card!

The Vatican Museum originated as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius II, and placed in what today is the Cortile Ottangono with the museum complex.  The Vatican Museum today is a complex of different museums and galleries which started under the patronage of popes Clement XIV and Pius VI.  About more than 4 million people visit the museum every year.  There are 54 galleries in total, with the most notable the very last sala within the museum, the Sistine Chapel.

   

 

 

 

 When we had spend a considerable amount of time within the Vatican Museums; I could have spent days there reading everything, we headed out through the 'guided tour' exit from the Sistine Chapel.  On the back left hand side of the museum, with a big 'no entry' sign, on of the guys at the hostel had told us about it the night before.  If we went through this door compared to leaving the 'normal' way, we would go down a staircase and right out onto St Peter's Basilica's terrace, as opposed to having to re line up to enter the Basilica.  It meant that we skipped an over an hour (at least!) long line to get into the church.  

St Peters Basilica is a late renaissance church, designed by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.  It is one of the largest churches in the world and the most renowned piece of architecture from Renaissance period.  We joined all the other tourist marveling at how massive the church is and the amazing works of art inside.  

  

 

Again, working on the information of a hostel guest, we followed the brown railing which runs inside the church around to the left hand side.  Just this side of a pillar, there is a set of stairs which lead down into the crypt below the church.  We had been told, no one would going down the stairs, and he was right.  The only reason we found them was because he had told us, otherwise we would have never known they existed!  As per Catholic tradition the crypt is the burial site of its namesake, Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and also according to tradition, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome.

After walking through St Peter's Square, past all the people queuing to get into the Basilica, we walked to Castle Sant' Angelo and across a bridge over the Fiume Tevere.  On the other side, after walking down a couple of streets which I called 'typically Rome' (they looked excatly like what Rome looks like in the movies!) we stumbled upon some street markets.

  

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the upper north area of Rome.  We found the Piazza Navona, many churches and shops along the way.

Along the way we found the Pantheon.  The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and was rebuilt by the emperor Hadrain about 126 AD.  The circular building has a portico of large granite Corinthian columns under a pediment, a rectangular vestibule linking the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central oculus (opening) to the sky.  Almost 2000 years after it was built, the Pantheon is still the worlds largest non-reinforced concrete dome.  

   

We also went to the Spanish Steps, a set of steps climbing the slope wetween the Piazza di Spagna at the base and the Piazza Tinita dei Monti at the top.  As per most other parts of Rome, the Trinita dei Monti church at the top was under reconstruction and scaffolding.  It was still good to see the steps and say we have been there!

We had dinner in the same restaurant where we got the take away pizza the night before.  This time we sat in the restaurant (mainly for the use of the free wifi!). I had smoked salmon carbonara and Charlotte had ravioli.  We had dessert at the gelato place next door; I had coffee, hazelnut and baci ice-cream in a waffle cone with whipped cream on top, just to add to the calories!

  

 

We finished the night staying in at the hostel with wine drinking and discussions!