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Published: October 27th 2006
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Entrance to the Vatican
The figure on the left is Michelangelo and the figure on the right is Raphael Day 8 - Rome
We were up waayy early and on the bus by 6:45am in the attempt to beat the crowds to the Vatican. And we did. Well sort of, there were about 50 people in front of us, but that was nothing. Not long after we arrived, the queue was already massive. Apparently about 20,000 people go through the Vatican each day. So big points to Red Bull for getting us up so early!!
We had a local guide who gave us headsets so we could hear her and held up a big stick with a handkerchief tied to it so we could see where she was at. We figured we should get Red Bull a big stick and tie a pair of Y-Fronts to it for when he's showing us around!!
The entrance to the Vatican has two statues above it. One is Michelangelo and the second is Raphael. Between them they frescoed a whole heap of ceilings and designed a lot of features in the Vatican.
Once we were in we pretty much headed straight for the Sistine Chapel. We went through the museums and down corridors with amazing statues, tapestries, paintings,
Ceiling in the Gallery of Maps
The stucco and fresco decoration of the ceiling was executed in 1583 under the direction of Desare Nebbia and Girolamo Muziano and incredible ceilings. It's like they've gone crazy trying to fill up every single space.
We were able to take photo's until we got into the Sistine Chapel. In here you aren't allowed to talk either. We were really lucky as there were hardly anyone else in there when we first arrived. After half an hour though, it was so full you could hardly move.
I was also lucky in that Amy had been reading 'Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling' (which I'm now half way through and can totally recommend) plus I had bought a guidebook on the Vatican, so I was armed with at least some information about the art work. The ceiling is split up into nine panels which were frescoed (by Michelangelo of course) with scenes from Genesis eg The Drunkeness of Noah (which we could all relate to!), The Creation of Eve (nice work!), The Creation of Adam, etc. The ceiling had a 3D feeling to it as it is also frescoed with marble ribs, cornices, columns, etc. I guess you have to see it to appreciate it. Then where the ceiling arches to the walls there are more frescoes, and the walls themselves
Cupola
Designed by Donato Bramante in St Peters Basilica are covered in them too. I'm running out of superlatives to describe it. If you intend going to see the Sistine Chapel though, I'd recommend reading up on it first, or else it's just a mass of colour and full-on paintings.
We eventually moved on to St Peters Basilica. This is another full-on building. We went beneath the basilica to the tombs of past Popes. There we saw amongst others, the memorial to St Peter (the first pope) and Pope John Paul II's tomb. There were a number of people there still grieving so we pretty much moved on quickly to give them space.
Then we explored the basilica itself. We saw the Pietà (Madonna holding her dead son) which was carved by Michelangelo when he was just 21 out of a single block of marble. We also saw the bronze statue of St Peter which is thought to have been made in the 4th Century.
I particularly loved the inside of the Cupola (also worked on by Michelangelo - gees he was a busy lad in his day). Again the photo's don't do it justice. You'll just have to go see it yourselves.
After several
hours there, it was time to move on from the Vatican. While we'd been inside, the heavens opened big time. It was our first rainy day and we weren't prepared, so the girls ended up buying these rather sexy poncho's complete with Italia written on the back. They proved to be worth their weight in gold during the day, and I bet all the people who hassled us when we first bought them, wished they had had the foresight we did!!
We had lunch opposite the Vatican and then hopped on the bus for a trip to the Colleseum. We passed Palatine Hill on the way (which is the most ancient part of Rome where Romulus and Remus were found as infants, and where Romulus decided to build Rome).
We also passed the Monument of Victor Emmanuel II (better known as the Wedding Cake) which is built purely out of marble. It's quite grand but the Italians think it's pompous and too big.
Next we passed the remains of the Forum Romanum which is the central area around which ancient Rome was built.
Finally we made it to the Colleseum. Right next to it is the
Triumphal Arch of Constantine which was built in 315 to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge 3 years earlier. At this rate I'll be a historian in no time!!
The Colleseum itself was just like it is in the movies (although they may have filled a few bits in for The Gladiator). The seating, etc that had once existed is long gone, but they have rebuilt a small section so you can see how it would have looked. It was built about 72AD so it has survived really well. The bottom part of it contains the remains of cages which were built to hold animals, people, etc. Prior to these cages being built, they apparently used to flood it at will to hold mock naval battles.
The weather had deteriorated further at this stage. The group all split up and GAGS decided to make their way over to the other side of the city to the Capuchin Church of the Immaculate Conception.
We got totally drenched walking there. I've never seen it rain so hard. There were rivers running down the roads. It was all quite an adventure really. We
Eerie display of the bones of Friars
In the Capuchin Crypt beneath the Capuchin Church of the Immaculate Conception (1645) got to the church before it was open to the public so we found a cafe across the road for a second lunch ;-) We ate under a canopy and it was like being under a waterfall with an umbrella. The waiter was great value (and yes, Amy did get a kiss from him!) and he was good enough to take a photo of us.
We fortified ourselves in preparation for our visit to the church with a bottle of wine. Lucky we did, the Capuchin Crypt beneath the Capuchin Church is famous for its macabre displays. The remains of 4000 monks have been arranged to create displays in six rooms. These displays are really freaky. For example an altar has been created out of skulls, and there are lampshades made mainly of vertebrae.
We got a cab back to the hotel afterwards to dry off. Our cab driver, Luciano, was a good laugh and even though I don't think he understood a word we said he put up with us nattering to him all the way back. We really should cut back on the vino!
For dinner, the whole group headed to a Caberet Show. The
performances were in Italian and sort of went over our head. The food was quite bizarre too. It came in bits and pieces, so at one point i had a plate of potatoes, and then later I got a steak. About dessert time a bowl of salad arrived. However, the wine was flowing freely and everyone was in great spirits as you can see by the photos.
The night was made though by the trip home. Red Bull stayed on in town, so El Dirte stepped up to the task of entertaining us on the bus. He was on FIRE!! Check out the video to see him in action!! We all ended up singing and anyone passing us would have mistaken us for a Contiki Tour!!
The party continued at the hotel bar where some of the crew gave in to the pull of Karaoke. Twas a very merry night :-)
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georgia
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el dirte
sandy how do i see the video?