A very early start to the day to ensure we have the best chance of seeing the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel before the crowds descend. We have booked with a tour group that gets you inside the Vatican through express entry and then leaves you to your own devices once inside. 

We arrive before 7am at the imposing walled entrance and watch the ensuing chaos as paying patrons try to find their guides and groups to ensure they are not left behind. There is a mass of confusion and many patrons are starting to believe that they may have paid online for something that doesn’t exist. Its amusing and frustrating at the same time as there has been an issue with the Metro train system this morning and people, including guides, are running behind schedule.

We patiently wait for our guide to arrive then join the surge of patrons registering for entry. Our guide works cooly and calmly, as only a red headed Italian man with a top bun and beard can do, to prepare the appropriate paperwork and assemble us into some form of group to get us through security screening and into the foyer of the entrance. 

From there he purchases the tickets and marches us to the top of the entry ramp which is an endless series of loops that reminds me of the Guggenhiem in New York.

From there he hands out the entry tickets and lets us loose to find our own way around. Not much of a guided tour, more a way of sneaking past the lines of people who have shown up without tickets.

With the starter’s gun shot, our intrepid travelling companion makes a beeline for the Sistine Chapel as she is eager to take in the splendor of the room before the crowds descend. Its a good call as we speed our way down decorative hallways toward our goal. 

At the last hurdle we are thwarted by an over zealous group guide who stops us short of the doors and asks us to hop back in line behind his group. So we aren’t the first into the room but there are only a handful before us so we get the opportunity to sit on the outer wall seats and stare in awe at the fresco adorning the ceiling and walls.

Its awesome to sit and take in the works of Michelangelo first hand and to think that he painted this marvel over a four year period starting in 1508. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos of the work so we have nothing to show for the visit but we do have the memories. There are several photos of other parts of the Vatican to enjoy though.

 

   We move throughout the Vatican and onto the adjoining St Peter’s Basilica where the sheer size and presence of this church is somewhat overwhelming. The ceilings soar above us with domes letting in natural light that highlights the gold surfaces and magnificent statues. 

Listening to the quiet whispers your pick up accents from around the world and there is a real sense of hope here, no I’m not turning all religious, but you can feel that people visit this facility as a pilgrimage and I respect their belief and faith.

 

 As we leave the basilica we see two members of the Swiss Guards in their bright uniforms. A little too flamboyant for my liking but when you have a pretty important gig to protect the Pope, you can wear what ever pleases you.

 After a brief rest we head back out to the Piazza Navona and then wander down to the Jewish Quarter and see the little Colluseum. Its similar to its larger brother but now has apartments on top. From there its back to the Piazza for a quiet afternoon drink while watching the crowds go about their day. From there we wander back to a local restaurant where the waiters enjoy our lack of Italian language capability, but the food is amazing. Then its back to the hotel for a night’s rest as we have covered another 20km on foot again today. Bring on tomorrow…