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We started early, ready for a big day around the Vatican. The Metro is very efficient and after walking to Manzone we bought our integrated all day tickets for 6 euros each and hopped on. The metros are built underground, but our line comes out before crossing the Tiber, so we had a good view of the river. We got off at Cipro, the Musei Vaticani station and we were on our way. We walked past the queues and into the front door smiling to ourselves that we had enough sense to buy an online ticket that enabled us to jump the queue.
The Vatican Museum was unbelievable - rooms full of treasures, tapestries, mosaics, sculptures and of course the final destination to the Sistine Chapel. We took our time and used the audio guide as we went. We were so pleased we could take our time and go back and look at something again if we wanted to. The tour groups were very rushed and couldn't linger over favourites.
The Sistine Chapel blew us away, nothing can prepare you for the majesty, beauty, size and glory of the place. Just to get up to the ceiling to paint
would have been an achievement in itself, let alone the technical expertise to create something of such artistic merit. We were lucky we had booked early because their weren't too many crowds. We were able to sit and contemplate the wonder of it all and then wander more to take it all in.
After we finished in the Museum we walked to St Peter's Square and the Basilica. We didn't quite know what to expect and saw a lot of people lining up and going inside. So we joined the queue, not knowing what we were lining up for. We did, however, feel that we were heading in the right direction and all these people must know what they're doing. It turned out to be a queue to go into the Basilica and to go to the top of the dome.
Before entering the Basilica proper, we decided to take the opportunity and go up into the main dome. The tickets were 7 euros by lift and stairs, or 5 euros to walk up the entire way. Guess what we decided to do? Yes, the lift option won and we decided that we would face the stairs when
we had to. When the lift stopped we were half way, so got out and had a look around and took photos. We were able to walk behind the huge statues of the apostles and look at views over St Peter's Square and Rome.
We then went inside the dome of St Peter's Basilica and we were able to get close up to the mosaics that clad the walls and look down on the tiny people below in the Basilica itself. From up high you get a better sense of the enormity of the place. We spent some time here, before we realised there were even more stairs to climb to get to the VERY top. Being inside the dome was a great experience in itself, but there was more to come. We decided to bite the bullet and climb to the top of the dome itself and stand outside.
After climbing and climbing endless stairs and then an endless spiral staircase which narrowed the higher we went up, we finally reached the top. We had to stop regularly for breathers. Eventually we made it and the view from the top was magic. The walkway went all around
the top of the dome, and we slowly made our way around, enjoying the views from every side. We stayed there for quite a while taking photos and enjoying the moment before heading back down the spiral staircase and the lift to the Basilica below.
We thought nothing could beat the Sistine Chapel, but here we were in St Peter's Basilica with paintings and sculptures of Michael Angelo and the most famous talented painters of all time. Whilst there were many highlights, the piece de resistance was Michelangelo's Pieta - a truly magnificent sculpture. It was a magic day.
Here is a link to the video I made of our day.
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Pete & Ness
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Stunning
Stunning photos, thanks to you both for sharing them. (Amazing video too) Glad it's all going well! Love from Us xx