Seeing the Vatican and going to the Vatican Museums was definitely on my list of things to do (even though it took me two weeks to get there). It's almost overwhelming with how much there is to see. As an art person, seeing the pieces housed at the Vatican Museums is amazing. There are so many statues and paintings, tapestries and even landscape work that are visually stimulating and exceptional in size. I think what I enjoyed the most was looking at all the ceilings. I cannot express the intricacy of these works. Every ceiling was gilded from top to bottom and the fresco work was just incomparable.
The funniest part of the entire day at the Vatican was that we exited through a back entrance (that we weren't really allowed in but our friend discovered led out to the front of St. Peters Basilica). We snuck down and went through the front entrance that overlooked the entirety of St. Peter's square. We were about to leave when we saw maybe four or five people walking through a little door that was accessed by a small ramp. We decided to take a quick look at what was through those doors (thinking it was a little gift shop or something). It was actually the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, and we were about to walk right past it. It was absolutely breathtaking, especially when you first walk in. Every inch of this church is covered in green, red or white marble, gilded mouldings and fresco work that is just incredible. We walked in and laughed at ourselves for being so stupid and almost missing it.
When you first walk in, to your right, there is The Pieta by Michelangelo. This is sculpture of the Virgin holding a dead Christ in her arms after he is removed from the cross (see photo). This is something that I've been waiting to see my entire life and I almost walked right past it. It was one of those moments that I was unable to do just about anything and after a few minutes I decided to take a picture. We then walked up the main aisle and headed to the altar. As this happened the organ started to play, and that's when I lost it. I am totally aware of how lame and emotionally unstable this sounds but as someone who studies art history and a Catholic this was just too much for me to handle, and I mean, I really did try to keep it together.
Once we got to go behind the altar I realized the scale of the altar and how massive it is. Then I thought about how utterly impressive this must have been when it was originally built because for Christ's sake here I am crying, so it must've been something else back then.
I blessed myself and took a few more pictures and then left. I waited for my roommates to get back from the bathroom outside. I took a moment to stare at St. Peters at night all lit up, the works. The entire day was just completely life-altering and really, truly knocked me off my feet.
To add some comic relief from the gross amount of emotion in this post: We then had time to kill before any places opened for dinner and basically squatted in a cafe for the better part of two hours, and the Italians were really amused by how hungry we were/"stupid Americans eat so early, this is Italy get a grip".
The funniest part of the entire day at the Vatican was that we exited through a back entrance (that we weren't really allowed in but our friend discovered led out to the front of St. Peters Basilica). We snuck down and went through the front entrance that overlooked the entirety of St. Peter's square. We were about to leave when we saw maybe four or five people walking through a little door that was accessed by a small ramp. We decided to take a quick look at what was through those doors (thinking it was a little gift shop or something). It was actually the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, and we were about to walk right past it. It was absolutely breathtaking, especially when you first walk in. Every inch of this church is covered in green, red or white marble, gilded mouldings and fresco work that is just incredible. We walked in and laughed at ourselves for being so stupid and almost missing it.
When you first walk in, to your right, there is The Pieta by Michelangelo. This is sculpture of the Virgin holding a dead Christ in her arms after he is removed from the cross (see photo). This is something that I've been waiting to see my entire life and I almost walked right past it. It was one of those moments that I was unable to do just about anything and after a few minutes I decided to take a picture. We then walked up the main aisle and headed to the altar. As this happened the organ started to play, and that's when I lost it. I am totally aware of how lame and emotionally unstable this sounds but as someone who studies art history and a Catholic this was just too much for me to handle, and I mean, I really did try to keep it together.
Once we got to go behind the altar I realized the scale of the altar and how massive it is. Then I thought about how utterly impressive this must have been when it was originally built because for Christ's sake here I am crying, so it must've been something else back then.
I blessed myself and took a few more pictures and then left. I waited for my roommates to get back from the bathroom outside. I took a moment to stare at St. Peters at night all lit up, the works. The entire day was just completely life-altering and really, truly knocked me off my feet.
To add some comic relief from the gross amount of emotion in this post: We then had time to kill before any places opened for dinner and basically squatted in a cafe for the better part of two hours, and the Italians were really amused by how hungry we were/"stupid Americans eat so early, this is Italy get a grip".