The Vatican Museum

The only day when Anne and Mark had weather issues on the entire trip was the day they had penciled in to go to the Vatican Museum.  Perfect timing.  Quick tip - if you go to the Vatican Museum, buy your tickets ahead of time on-line.  If you show up without tickets, you have to wait in line.  The day we were there - during the slow season under a downpour - the line was estimated to be at least a three hour wait.

But Anne and Mark are savvy travelers and had obtained their entry passes on-line (thanks for the tip, Jo and Kyle), so they walked right on by all of the angry pilgrims waiting in line.  Anne and Mark initially felt slightly guilty about cutting to the front.  However, after having spent a couple of days in Italy, Anne and Mark had learned that cutting in line was ok there, so they quickly got over it.

Once you get past security and the Vatican post office (remember, Vatican City is a sovereign nation, so it has its own), you can start touring the exhibits.  Mark and Anne's first reaction in the first exhibit was - we're in the right place aren't we?

Where my dogs at?

Hey Anne, don't look up now, but there's a huge statue coming after you!

Egyptian mummies in the Vatican museum?  Did not see that coming.

Mark and Anne were both of the understanding that the Catholic Church was the big deal in Vatican City.  Imagine their surprise when the first few exhibits they saw were clearly from ancient Egypt.  Maybe Anne and Mark can visit the pyramids to get a look at "The Last Supper."  This is why it's a bad idea to profile.  I assume I know what's going to be in the Vatican museum, but soon found out that there was much more.  Kind of makes me want to check out the Spam museum (in Austin, Minnesota) to see what they have going on in there.  I assume I knew, but ....

Anyway, after the Egyptians, we toured the exhibits of art from ancient Greece.  (?)

Mark's new fantasy football mascot.

Anne and Mark must have missed this Bible story all together.

Interesting story about the fig leaf there.  Apparently, most of the statues in the Vatican used to be nudes.  Then one of the popes (Paul IV) decided that so many nude statues was a bad idea, so they went around and... "fixed" them to make them 'safe for work,' and added the fig leaf so that we would never know the difference.  So now, there are all of these beautiful statues, with strategically placed fig leaves the sculptors did not put there.

After we got through the Egyptian and Greek art, we finally got up to the art produced during the Christian era.  Once Anne and Mark got to this stage they were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer volume.  After the third room covered (literally, floor to ceiling) with works by Raphael, it is difficult to see, let along truly appreciate, each one.  

Literally, a room covered with Raphaels.

What should we do with these priceless art works?  Um, I think there's room on the ceiling in the tapestry hallway.

Tapestry (photo by Trolard Pillinski)

Additionally, the rooms with the most famous pieces of art are crowded and poorly lit, so it was difficult to get good photos.  At the end of the museum tour, Anne and Mark went into the Sistine Chapel.  No photos are allowed there (Mark may have tried to take one anyway, but if he did was was probably unsuccessful), but most of us are familiar with the famous works there painted by Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Botticelli - pretty much anyone who is anyone is the world of frescos.  

From there, Anne and Mark progressed to St. Peter's Basilica.  When you enter St. Peter's, it is difficult to remain unimpressed.  The large structure directly ahead of you is a sculpture by Bernini which stands over the alter, which is built over the place where St. Peter's bones rest.

Not impressed yet?  To the left of that is the actual place where St. Peter was crucified (obviously, there was no Basilica there at the time, but the place is marked).  To the right is the body of Pope John XXIII, who passed away in 1963 after calling the second Vatican Council, but before he was able to preside over it).  The "Good Pope John" was named "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II and may be on the path to being named a saint by the church. After his beatification, the Pope's body was raised from it's tomb beneath St. Peter's (many popes are buried there - the land beneath Vatican City was previously used as a burial ground for the people who were killed in the games and in public executions during the reign of Nero, so many early Christians are buried there - popes find this an appropriate place to choose for their final resting place) and placed in the Basilica for the veneration by the faithful, where it is today.

Still not impressed?  Also found in St. Peter's Basilica: a massive dome, a statue of St. Peter whose toe has nearly been worn down to nothing by the rubbing or kissing of it by pilgrims, the Holy Door which is opened only once every 25 or 50 years, countless monuments and a sculpture by Michelangelo.  A bit overwhelming.

Pieta by Michelangelo - tough to get a good photo because it is behind bulletproof glass.

Finally, Anne and Mark went out into St. Peter's Square (where the rain had finally let up).