Rome, Italy

We left for our day out at around ten this morning. We caught our usual 337 to Siemprione and then we caught bus 60 to Barberini, where we caught the Metro to Ottoviano.

After a lazy McDonalds lunch, we made the short walk to the Vatican City. This I knew would be a momentous occasion. We walked through the outer columns of St. Peter’s Square to see the Basilica when, just my luck, the entire Basilica was covered in scaffolding for restoration work. I couldn’t believe it! It was heart wrenching. Here was the most significant building I’d seen to date, hidden by a mountain of metal and mesh. Devastated! However, I went on (I don’t know how). We had been warned that the queues here would be extremely long, but like Notre Dame and London Tower / Crown Jewels, we walked straight in. Instantly you are in awe of this beautiful church. Immediately to your right, as you walk in, is a statue of Madonna and Christ (Pieta) done by Michelangelo at the age of 25, my current age. This artwork, protected by bullet-proof glass, is Michelangelo’s only work to carry his signature. The paintings and mosaics here are fabulous, as are the statue-lined tombs of previous Popes. The centerpiece is a canopy sculpted by Bernini, called Balacchino. Underneath it is believed to be the remains of St Peter – the first Pope. The church’s artefacts also extend to a cellar area.

Me, Vatican, Italy

St. Peter's Square, Vatican, Italy

Michelangelo's Pieta, St. Peter's Basilica, Me, Vatican, Italy

St. Peter's Basilica, Me, Vatican, Italy

When you exit here it brings you to the ticket office of the dome of St Peters. We paid our 6000 lira and caught the elevator half way up and then climbed to 373 steps. Along the way we stopped inside the church to look down on the main altar. Once again, my fear of heights came flooding back to me, but I wasn’t going to come this far and not look out the top. The outside of the dome is up high and although the view over Rome is amazing, I hated being near the open railing. We were outside for about 15 minutes before making the long haul down, with a stop at the souvenir shop on the way. The lift down bought us back into the Basilica, where we did another lap to take in all in. We then sat on the steps and wrote some postcards to be sent from the Vatican post office. As we walked out of St. Peters Square, I turned around once more in the vain hope that all the construction works had been magically pulled down, but to no avail.

St. Peter's Square, Vatican, and Rome, Italy

From here we walked to Castel St. Angelo – we didn’t go in as it was soon to close – but around it was like a temporary market where we stopped for a gelati.

We started our trek home by walking to Lepanto station, catching the train to Termini and then the two buses. In between buses we looked for restaurant, couldn’t find one, so settled for a cook tent meal instead. We’ll dine out tomorrow.