Vatican City and Bush Protests

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St. Peter's Basilica is an unassuming name for what seems to surpass all churches in the world. And well it should be, as it is situated in Vatican City, the residence of the Pope and the Holy See. However, it is not a cathedral.

Our plans to visit the Basilica were foiled when we arrived on Saturday, June 9th, and were turned away being told that President Bush was inside speaking with the Pope at the moment. This papal visit was the cause of a spread of riots throughout Rome, particularly at the location of the American Embassy. The Embassy happened to be located next to the Opera House, and so our hopes of a romantic evening seeing the classical Italian opera "La Traviata" in Rome were also dashed. The marchers, smoke bombs and police didn't exactly provide the ideal backdrop for an elegant evening at the opera.

An article about the riots where the posted photograph was taken can be read at http://origin.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,279854,00.html.

St. Peter's Basilica takes its name from its being situated on the tomb of the apostle St. Peter. Here, the apostle Peter was crucified and interred. The tomb of St. Peter's is beneath the main altar. The tombs of many Popes are inside the Basilica, where glass cases often hold their likenesses, as though they were sleeping peacefully within. The Basilica itself was founded by Constantine in 324, but reconstructed in the 16th century by the Renaissance masters, including Michelangelo, Bramante, and Bernini.

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Photos

The Dome
another magnificent view

Basilica Interior
the baldacchino at left

Sun Medallion
at the Basilica nave

The baldacchino
against radiant sunlight streaming from the dome

Altar of St. Jerome
the tomb of Pope John XXIII

Anti-Bush Protests
accompanied the papal visit, which nearly prevented our own visit to St. Peter's Basilica