ITALY!!: The Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica...

I will do my best to describe what may have been the most amazing experience of my life, the Vatican City.  

We started our adventure to the Vatican like most Italians start their day, the Metro -- a crazy underground subway that carries people throughout Rome. A great system but chaotic, fast-paced and hot. From the monetary and time efficient ride we walked to the huge walls that surround the amazing city. There were people EVERYWHERE!! Drivers were honking, people walking, people staring, and people waiting. We made it to our skip-the-line tour guide (a must do when you do things like this or you will be waiting for HOURS!!!) (thank you, Yvonne) and got into the Vatican museum first.

Our tour guide is a fanatic. He was a sweet guy, thin and boney, dressed in a faded blue suit with a fedora hat and he knew his stuff -- from Belgium he has lived in Rome for more than 26 years. He shared with us the beginning stories of the Popes and the Vatican. What surprised me is that the Popes weren't necessarily the "peace keepers" they are today. Instead they incited wars and took land. They could also determine your fate after death, heaven or hell. Their position changed around 1500 AD and they became more of what they are today.

The museum was fantastic. Housing one the world’s largest collection of Renaissance art from statues, sarcophaguses, panels, painting, tapestries, to stained-glass windows. 4 miles of displays – it was so overwhelming!! So much history and information and I wish I knew more and definitely didn’t have enough time to take it all in.

After the museum we went into the Sistine Chapel. A holy place where you cannot speak nor take video or photos as it is:

"The Sistine Chapel is the place that, for each Pope, holds the memory of a special day in his life. ... Precisely here, in this sacred space, the Cardinals gather, awaiting the manifestation of the will of Christ with regard to the person of the Successor of St Peter [...]. And here, in a spirit of obedience to Christ and trusting in his Mother, I accepted the election that sprung from the Conclave, declaring [...] my readiness to serve the Church. Thus therefore the Sistine Chapel became once again before the whole Catholic Community the place of the action of the Holy Spirit that nominates the Bishops in the Church, and nominates especially he who must be the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of Peter". Credit: http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Storia.html

It was such a moving experience to be in such a sacred place and I was able to pray. The more notable point is that the ceiling of the Sistine was painted by Michaelangelo – the famous “The Creation of Adam” was breath taking.

Lastly, we went to St. Peter’s Basilica “there is no doubt it is the richest and grandest church on earth. To call it vast is like calling Einstein smart” – Rick Steves. It is hard to describe how I felt when I walked into the basilica. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe, I was in shock and awe. Absolutely one of the most amazing places I have ever seen and its spirit captured me. I wanted to cry. I wanted to fall to the floor, stretch out my arms and absorb every piece of it.

Within the detailed, high columned ceilings are several chapels, alters, monuments, tombs, tabernacles, statues of Saints and confession. The item I most desperately wanted to see was Michaelangelo’s Pieta which is in the first chapel. “The Madonna’s youthful, sweet face expresses her submission to destiny, as she cradles the dead Christ’s limp body in her lap. Yet the rich drapery of her dress and veil suggest an extraordinary physical and moral strength, which contrasts with the delicate, 15th century features. This is the only work signed by the artist, whose name appears on the belt”. Credit: http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/monumenti/basilica-di-s-pietro/interno.paginate.1.html

I have often thought about this beautiful piece and now I was seeing it in the flesh. It was a fantastic moment. We wandered the vastness and ended up at the Grottos. Underneath the basilica is the Vatican Grottos. The grottos are the burials of kings, queens and popes and are given holy tribute. Just beautiful.

After many hours, we were exhausted and tired. It was a long day. We said goodbye to our tour guide, who commented on how good Hannah and Mason were. We exited the massive square of the Vatican. It was a powerful, magical and fulfilling experience to say the least.

Amongst the site-seeing we have enjoyed walking through the narrow cobbled streets, eating delicious Italian cuisine and taking-in the Roman architecture that is spread out throughout the city.

We only have a few more days and plan to visit the Villa Borghese Gardens where another highly anticipated statue resides.

As always, to be continued...

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITALY!!!: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill...

It's a life changing event when you walk upon a historical site that is 2,000+ years old and is one of the most famous of all time -- the Colosseum (I got choked up a few times). The Colosseum's main purpose was, per our guide, for propaganda. It is speculated that the emperor(s) built the Colosseum to distract and spoil the masses -- distract from political deficiencies and sway the favor of the masses' perceptions. Our guide joked about how the Romans were smart enough to build the Colosseum next to the subway and Hannah thought that was hilarious!

The events to the Colosseum were free (and included food and wine) to all but seating was based on social status and gender. The Colosseum events were for "entertainment". "Entertainment" that included the fighting of wild animals vs. wild animals, wild animals vs. Gladiators and Gladiators vs. Gladiators. Senators/politicians had special seating with their names engraved in marble. The poor, slaves, beggars and women were placed in the top-tier seating. Women were kept far away from the gladiators as they often fell in love with them.

The Gladiators were strong men that varied from slaves, men who had debts to men who wanted to be the glorified fighters. They were paid to train and were very expensive assets, which sometimes their lives were spared for another day to fight. Many, many, many men died in the Colossum and it sent chills up my spine knowing that we were standing in that very place. 

From the Colosseum we walked through the Forum. The (2^nd) Forum was the center of political, commercial and judicial life. Upon massive amounts of rubble and fallen columns, there are two well preserved arches, the Arch of Titus and Arch of Septimius Severus. The arch of Titus Hannah really enjoyed because of the story of the Goddess Nike, the Goddess of Victory. The interesting part that caught Hannah’s attention was that Nike’s role was to remind the Emperor Titus that, even though he was a great victor, he was still mortal until death. And after death the senators could decide if Titus could become a God.

Lastly, we ended up at Palatine Hill. Palatine Hill is where the Roman aristocracy lived and emperors built their villas or better known as palaces. It is speculated that the word palace or palazzo, in Italian, was derived from the word Palatine. The view was incredible and it was obvious why the aristocrats lived and built there.

Our day was long and hot but absolutely and undeniably the best adventure yet!! We have been in Italy for only two days now and just getting started but are IN LOVE with Rome and looking forward to more adventures wandering through ancient time.

As always, to be continued….