The dome

The dome of the basilica is actually not a perfect hemisphere. It is parabolic like half of an egg. The structure is held together by hidden iron chains that work like the staves of a barrel. The writing on the dome translates as: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. ... I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 16:18-19)

Day Six (Thursday)

June 29th 2006
As if the regular Italian breakfast wasn't bad enough, our otherwise wonderful hotel didn't have a breakfast room that could accomodate our group. We had to walk two blocks to a tiny strip mall. The empty lots we passed were chock full of empty bottles, cardboard boxes, dog crap and waist high weeds. The breakfast stop was actually a Chinese restaurant trying to make a few extra bucks by cateri ... read more

Europe » Vatican City

Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further c... ... read more

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