Catholics, Vespa's and a whole lot of Ruins

St Peter's Square from just outside the Basilica

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See the rain clouds looming....

Michelangelo's Dome at St Peter's Basilica

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This was one of his last works. No building is allowed to exceed the height of this dome in Rome.

Michelangelo's Pieta at St Peter's Basilica

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Michelangelo was 24 years old when he completed this statue. A pieta is a work that represents Mary with the body of Christ taken down from the cross. It is set behind bulletproof glass and after painstakingly trying to fight the crowds and the funny light to get a good shot of it we found a replica in perfect view at the Vatican Museum. Guess it wouldn't be the same though....

At the Vatican Museum

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Loads of these massive tombs at the Vatican but unfortunately we forgot to also take pictures of the labels so can't remember what most of them were. This was one of the grandest (and one of the unknowns).

Raphael's School of Athens

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At the Vatican Museum. Fresco apparently means "fresh" in Italian. Frescoes are technically not a painting. Colour is mixed into wet plaster and when the plaster dries the painting is actually part of the wall. This method is more durable but much more difficult for the artist as they need to work very quickly and accurately as the image is painted section by section. This work and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel are both frescoes. In the School of Athens, which originally wallpapered the apartments of Pope Julius II, Raphael, being cheeky, pays tribute to the great pre-Christian thinkers like Aristotle, Plato and Sophocles. Our picture isn't that crash hot but if you Google it you should be able to get a good explanation of who's who with a decent picture.

Raphael's Transfiguration at the Vatican Museum

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Raphael completed this painting before he died, around 1520. This is said to be his most beautiful piece. Without the aid of lighting Jesus, with the clouds and light of heaven behind him seems to glow.

See the individual tiles on this mosaic - unbelievable

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This mosaic was about the size of a Sao biscuit. The detail is incredible.

The Pope's Balcony

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This is where the Pope gives his public addresses - every Wednesday and Sunday.

The Map Room at the Vatican Museum

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Most of the rooms at the Vatican Museums are decorated extravagantly like this. A lot of the time, the building of the museum itself is more interesting than the countless tapestries and plaster heads in the showcase!