July 15th - Vatican City, Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps

Today we had reservations for 9:00 am at the Vatican Museum & the Sistine Chapel.  Which if you are planning a visit make sure you have reservations.  The line at 9:00 was wrapped around the building.

They had many works of art throughout the museum.  

The ultimate highlight was seeing the School of Athens by Raphael that has been recently restored.  It was fun to hear Mike tell us about the people in the fresco.  Of course the Sistine Chapel was overwhelming trying to take in all the stories on the ceiling.  Unfortunately we were not able to take pictures inside the Chapel.

 

After we finished at the museum we headed over to the St. Peter's Basilica.

There was a huge line to get into the Basilica but luckily it moved fast, we had to go through a security screening and then a dress code screening.  There was a woman that had to buy some scarves to cover herself, her husband was laughing at her because she had Roma all over her.

The Pieta by Michelangelo was a masterpiece to behold.

There where so many beautiful sculptures.

Apostle Peter is buried beneath this 7 story bronze canopy by Bernini.

People walk by and rub & kiss the feet of the statue of Peter so his feet are worn down. The art was beautiful but it left an empty feeling it seemed more like a shrine to the Popes and saints.

We walked down the road a little bit to the Castle St. Angelo, then across the bridge,

when we came upon this little restaurant where we ate lunch.  Yes that is the witch from Snow White on the menu which did make us a little nervous.  So no one ordered anything made with apples.

We were looking for the Pantheon but ended up at the Trevi fountain.  Mike & Pam threw a coin in the fountain for their kids.

We even got a special treat of Gelato before we headed back to our rooms.

That is because we needed the sugar to get us up all those stairs to where are B & B was.  Just a note a B & B in Europe is not necessarily a bed and breakfast, which we new going in. 

We had decided to rest up for a while and then go back out tonight to sit on the Spanish Steps.

Which was very romantic.

Then it was back to the Trevi fountain to throw our coin in.

Hopefully this means we will get to come back someday.