Vatican City

Day Three

We left the B&B early in the morning at 7.30 am in order to beat the crowd at the famous museum. Took Metro Line A and stop at 'Ottaviano - S. Pietro' station. Before entering the museum, we had our breakfast from a bakery near the station (left photo below). Got myself a pizza and a cup of cappuccino at EUR 4 (right photo below).
Vatican City

Vatican City State is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome; having a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive dominion and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See. With an area of 49-hectares and a population of about 450, Vatican is the smallest state in the world by both area and population. Vatican City is also home to some of the most famous art in the world.

The collections in Vatican City are of highest historical, scientific and cultural importance, thus Vatican City is declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Vatican Museum

The Vatican Museum, or Musei Vaticani in Italian, is a museum that displays the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries. Founded in the early 16th century by Pope Julius II, the museum contains roughly 70,000 works, of which 20,000 are on display, and it employs 640 people to work in various departments.

Long queue already formed outside the entrance of Vatican Museum (left photo below). Luckily, our admission tickets were booked online which cost EUR 12.50 per person. We just walked straight to the entrance, showed the museum staff our vouchers and got into the museum without waiting. In return, an admission ticket was issued to each of us for our access (right photo below).


On top of this, we got the audio guide from the counter near the entrance (photos below). Each rental cost EUR 7 per piece. The audio guide did help me to understand the collections in Vatican Museum better.


Gregorian Egyptian Collection

Founded in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI, the artifacts, from ancient Egypt, are transferred to the museum mostly from private collectors.

One room is dedicated to the burial customs of ancient Egypt, where various polychrome wooden sarcophagi are displayed (photos below).


Statue of Queen Tuya was unearthed in 1714 in the gardens of Vigna Verospi, and entered the Vatican upon the foundation of the new Egyptian Museum in 1839 (left photo below). The statues that adorned the Villa of the Emperor Hadrian (117-138) are noteworthy: they are of black basalt, shaped in imitation of the Egyptian ones (right photo below).

Pio Clementino Museum

The museum is named after two popes who oversaw its foundation, Clement XVI and Pius VI, which focus mainly on Greek and Roman sculptures.

The Octagonal Court was home to the first nucleus of antique classical statues in the pontifical collections (left photo below). One noteworthy statue in this court is 'Perseus Triumphant' carved in end of 1800. It depicts Perseus holding the severed head of the Medusa (right photo below).


The Gallery of Statues holds many of the masterpieces of the Pio Clementino Museum (left photo below).

The Round Hall, or sala rotunda, has a hemispherical vault imitating that of the Pantheon was completed in 1779 (right photo below). The floor is an amazing 18th century assemblage of mosaics from the first decades of the 3rd century A.D.
Two noteworthy pieces in this round hall is the Heracles and Porphyry Basin. The glided bronze statue (left photo below) was initially found in 1864 beneath the courtyard of the Palazzo Pio Righetti. The statue depicts a young Heracles leaning on his club, with the skin of the Nemean lion over his arm, and the apples of the Hesperides in his left hand. The Porphyry Basin (right photo below) is located in the centre of the hall. It is a giant basin with a diameter of 13-meters, carved out of an igneous rock (a rock created from molten lava). The word 'Porphyry' comes from the Greek word for 'Purple', the color meant for Roman royalty.


The Hall of the Animals (photos below) was set up under Pope Pius VI with the aim of creating a 'stone zoo'. In this Hall it is the animals who are the protagonists, and can be seen both in curious interactions between one another, and also in relation to heroes and gods of the ancient world.

Pinecone Courtyard

The courtyard is named after the huge bronze statue shaped like a pinecone (left photo below). The metal sculpture, about 4-meters tall, was originally part of a fountain dating back to the 2nd century A.D. and was crafted during the Ancient Roman times. The base for the pinecone was taken from the baths of Septimus Severius also dating from the 2nd century A.D. The two peacocks either side were taken from the Emperor Hadrian's villa in Tivoli.

The golden sphere, known as Sphere within a Sphere, is another attraction in the courtyard (right photo below). The art piece, created in 1926, is over 13-meters in diameter depicts a smaller sphere inside a larger one symbolizing how the religious world relates to the world as we know it today.

The Tapestries Hall

The Tapestries Hall, also known as Galleria degli Arazzi, is one of the spectacular rooms in the Vatican Museum. The room of 250-meters in length (left photo below), hung tapestries depicting the life of Christ and Pope Urban VIII (right photo below).

The Gallery of Maps

This gallery, of 120-meters long, contains a series of painted topographical maps of Italy and was commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in 1580 (left photo below). Another stunning sight is the decorations on the vaulted ceiling (right photo below).

Room of the Immaculate Conception

Following the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pius IX, which took place on 8 December 1854, the Pope decided to celebrate the event with a cycle of frescoes. Work commenced from 1856 till 1865 where the walls and ceiling were painted with allegorical scenes.

The more renowned work is the 'Proclamation of the dogma': During the ceremony the pope had been obliged to stand up when a ray of sunlight unexpectedly shone in his face. As the day was overcast, the sunbeam was interpreted as heavenly confirmation of the dogma (left photo below). Directly above the pope is the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity (right photo below).

Raphael's Rooms

The four Raphael Rooms, or Stanze di Raffaello in Italian, form a suite of reception rooms in the Vatican Museum. They are famous for their frescoes, painted by Raphael and his workshop starting in 1508. Together with Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, they are the grand fresco sequences that mark the High Renaissance in Rome.

The Hall of Constantine, or Sala di Costantino, portrays the 'Vision of the Cross' (left photo below) and 'Triumph of Christianity' (right photo below).
The Room of the Fire in the Borgo, or Stanza dell'Incendio del Borgo, portrays the 'Battle of Ostia' (left photo below) and 'Fire in the Borgo' (right photo below).

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is at the very end of the Vatican Museums. The Sistine Chapel, or Cappella Sistina in Italian, is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Since 1492, it is now the site of the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected.

The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescoes that decorate its interior, most particularly the 'Sistine Chapel ceiling' and 'The Last Judgment', both painted by Michelangelo. In the middle of the ceiling decoration are nine scenes from the Book of Genesis (photos below).
Among the nine scenes, the most famous is the Creation of Adam (photo below).

The Last Judgement is a depiction of the Second Coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment by God of all humanity (photo below).

St. Peter's Basilica

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, or Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano in Italian, is a church built in Renaissance style and largest church in the world by interior measure. St. Peter's Basilica is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic shrines. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world" and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".

It was initially planned by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II to replace the aging Old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the 4th century by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626.

St. Peter's Basilica is always crowded with tourists, be it at its entrance (left photo below) or in the Basilica (right photo below).


Interior Furnishings

The dome is designed by Michelangelo in 1547 and only completed in 1590. With a height of 136.57-meters the floor of the basilica to the top of the external cross, it is the tallest dome in the world. The dome, with an internal diameter of 41.47-meters, it is divided into sixteen ribs and lit by the light from sixteen large windows (left photo below).

St. Peter's Baldachin, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, is a large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy at 28.74-meters tall and intended to mark, in a monumental way, the place of Saint Peter's tomb underneath (right photo below).


The Chair of Saint Peter is a relic of wooden throne that tradition claims belonged to the Apostle Saint Peter, the first Pope. The relic is enclosed in a sculpted gilt bronze casing designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and constructed between 1647 and 1653 (left photo below).

The tomb of Fabio Chigi, Pope Alexander VII, towards the end of the aisle, is the work of Bernini and called to be "one of the greatest tombs of the Baroque Age". Pope Alexander kneels upon his tomb, facing outward. The tomb is supported on a large draped shroud in patterned red marble, and is supported by four female figures, of whom only the two at the front are fully visible (right photo below).


This ancient statue of St. Peter, portrayed as he gives a blessing and preaches while holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven. It is believed that it is one of the few surviving monumental bronze statues from the 5th century (left photo below). It is customary for pilgrims visiting the church to touch or kiss Saint Peter's feet, particularly on the right one, and ask for a blessing. This tradition is so ancient that millions of people must have touched and kissed the statue over the course of at least 800 years; that's why Saint Peter's foot seems strangely flat, thin and very polished!

The Pietà, in Carrara marble, is a key work of Italian Renaissance sculpture in 1498 to 1499 by Michelangelo. This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion (right photo below).


Set in niches within the four piers supporting the dome are the larger-than-life statues associated with the basilica's primary holy relics: Saint Longinus holding the spear that pierced the side of Jesus, by Bernini (left photo below) and Saint Veronica holding her veil with the image of Jesus' face (right photo below).

St. Peter's Square

The façade of St. Peter's Basilica, also known as Maderno's façade, is 114.69-meters wide and 45.55-meters high. Built of travertine stone, a giant order of Corinthian columns and a central pediment rising in front of a tall attic surmounted by thirteen statues: Christ flanked by eleven of the Apostles (except statue of Saint Peter is located on left of the stairs) and John the Baptist (left photo below). Tourists are allowed to climb up the dome for an aerial view of St. Peter's Square and historic centre of Rome (right photo below).


Located in the St. Peter's Square, the Vatican Obelisk was brought from Heliopolis during the reign of Caligula and set up on the spina of the Circus of Gaius and Nero in Rome. It is a monolith of red granite without hieroglyphs with a height of 25.36 meters (left photo below).

A must for fans of Angels & Demons to find the West Ponente (West Wind) tile in St. Peter's Square (right photo below).


Following is the panorama view of St. Peter's Square.


Swiss Guards are responsible for the safety of the pope and they are often called the smallest army of the world. The guards, who are independent of the Swiss Armed Forces, are employed by the Roman Catholic Church. The guards normally wear blue, red, orange and yellow with a distinctly Renaissance appearance (left photo below).

Dome of St. Peter's Square may not be impressive when viewed from St. Peter's Square. But its imposing size is definitely visible when viewed from 'Via della Conciliazione' (right photo below).

Late Lunch

It was already 3 pm after our trip to Vatican City. Decided to have our late lunch at a bistro along 'Via della Traspontina' (photos below).
Ordered a Carbonara at EUR 10.50 for myself (left photo below) and we shared a meat roll at EUR 11.50 (right photo below). Taste was good as usual.
Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo, or Castel of the Holy Angel in English, is a towering cylindrical building initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family (left photo below). The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and now a museum. The top bronze statue is Michael the Archangel standing on top of the castle (right photo below).


Castel Sant'Angelo can be reached by alighting at Lepanto station and walk for about 10-minutes.

Ponte Sant'Angelo

Ponte Sant'Angelo is a Roman bridge, of 135-meters long, spans over the River Tiber (left photo below) with one end facing the Castel Sant'Angelo and other end in Piazza di Ponte Sant'Angelo (right photo below).
Pope Clement VII erected statues of Saints Peter and Paul, in the 16th century at the ends of the bridge. The parapets were adorned with ten more angel statues created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1688.

Following are eight of the angles taken at the bridge during my trip:

• Left photo below (top-left to bottom right): Angel with the Lance, Angel with the Sponge, Angel with the Superscription and Angel with the Cross.
• Right photo below (top-left to bottom right): Angel with the Nails, Angel with the Garment and Dice, Angel with the Crown of Thorns and Angel with the Whips.

Only two angles, namely Angel with the Column and Angel with the Sudarium (Veronica's Veil), are not in the photos above.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo, literally means People's Square, derives its name from the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. An Egyptian obelisk of Ramesses II, at 36-meters tall from its pedestal, stands in the centre of the piazza. Behind the obelisk stands the twin churches of Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (left photo below). Good aerial view of the Piazza del Popolo and St. Peter's Basilica can be obtained from the Pincian Hill (right photo below).


The majestic entrance to the Pincian Hill is from Piazza del Popolo (left photo below); a scenographic backdrop with three perspectives on the slopes of the hill. These are connected by small stairway ramps.

• The first perspective consists of three niches. In the centre, an ancient statue represents the goddess of health (Igea). Below it is a sculpture of She-Wolf (right photo below).
• The second perspective is constituted by the bas-relief depicting the Fame that crowns the Genes of the arts and commerce, below which there is a marble seat with two winged lions.
• The third perspective, on which the Belvedere terrace rests, consists of a covered loggia with three arches that insists on a building with three niches.
  

Piazza del Popolo can be reached by alighting at Flaminio station and walk for just a minute.

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps, or Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti in Italian, is a climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church (left photo below). The name can be a bit confusing, as construction of the steps was actually commissioned by the French (Louis XII). In the 17th century, the Spanish embassy was located on 'Piazza di Spagna' at the base of the stairs, hence the name 'Spanish Steps'.

The Fontana della Barcaccia, or "Fountain of the Boat" in English, is a Baroque-style fountain, completed in 1629, found at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna. The sculptural fountain is made into the shape of a half-sunken ship with water overflowing its sides into a small basin (right photo below).
The Spanish Steps can be reached by alighting at Barberini station and walk for about 10-minutes.

Via dei Condotti

Via dei Condotti is a busy and fashionable street that begins at the foot of the Spanish Steps (left photo below). It is a centre of fashion shopping in Rome where famous brands like Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Hermès, Armani, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Céline, Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari, Cartier, Montblanc, Tiffany & Co., and Louis Vuitton (right photo below) have their stores there.


Piazza del Campidoglio

Piazza del Campidoglio was laid down on the summit of the Capitoline Hill between the Forum and Campus Martius. Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Paul III in 1537 to remodel the square. Piazza del Campidoglio can be reached from Victor Emmanuel II Monument by 3-minutes' walk.

Cordonata

The piazza can be accessed from a ramp-staircase, Cordonata, designed with sufficient width so that riders can ascend without getting off their mounts (left photo below). At the upper end of the cordonata stands two statues of Castor (right photo below) and Pollux, transferred from a temple of the Dioscuri in the Flaminio Circus.

Palazzo Senatorio

The square is flanked by three buildings; Palazzo Nuovo and Palazzo dei Conservatori are opposite each other, while the Palazzo Senatorio (left photo below) faces the cordonata. Palazzo Senatorio currently houses the town hall and its façade was also designed by Michelangelo. An imposing bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was erected in the centre of the square (right photo below).

Capitoline Wolf

Another highlight in this square is the legendary sculpture of the Capitoline Wolf, situated between the Palazzo Senatorio and Palazzo Nuovo (left photo below). The sculpture is somewhat larger than life-size, standing 75 cm high and 114 cm long.

The she-wolf is depicted in a tense, watchful pose, with alert ears and glaring eyes, which are watching for danger. By contrast, the human twins (Romulus and Remus), executed in a completely different style, are oblivious to their surroundings and absorbed by their suckling (right photo below). This bronze she-wolf on top of the column is a replica; the original has been housed in the Capitoline Museums since 1471.

Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere

Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, or Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere in Italian, is a titular minor basilica in the Trastevere district in Rome (left photo below). It is one of the oldest churches in Rome, built in 221 and 227 by Pope Callixtus I and later Pope Julius I.

The fountain in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere is a fountain located in the square in front of the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere (right photo below). It is believed to be the oldest fountain in Rome, dating back to the 8th century.


Ivo a Trastevere Restaurant

Just 3 minutes' walk from Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, we decided to have dinner at this Ivo a Trastevere Restaurant (left photo below). Bread and Breadsticks was first served (right photo below), followed by fried fish at EUR 14.50 for myself (bottom left photo) and a seafood pizza at EUR 10 for sharing (bottom right photo). It was an authentic Italian pizza restaurant, and food was good except slightly pricy.
After dinner, we headed back to our B&B for rest after some tired walking.