Like our day spent at the Colosseum we chose to do a walking tour for our day in Vatican City. Just as iconic, and busy, as the ancient sites in Rome, the Vatican offers travelers and pilgrims alike a view of arguably the best art found in any church in Europe.
We wanted to get an early start so found a walking tour that offered first in line, early morning entry. Again there are a number of tours offered to this location, as well as the option to do a self guided tour so please do your research and find one that fits your needs. Please keep in mind however it is a very, very busy location so be prepared to wait in line.
The focus of the trip was the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s famous ceiling, however since our guide was not allowed to speak while inside he took the time, using an enlarged photo mounted in the courtyard of the Vatican Museum, to explore the art work in detail. Once inside we were allowed a scant 15 minutes to view the masterpiece along with the equally as amazing work on the altar wall of the Last Judgement, also by Michelangelo.
Before arriving at the Sistene Chapel however we walked through the Vatican Museum which includes statuary such as the tortured Laocoön and His Sons, which was excavated in 1506 and has been on display in the Vatican ever since, as well as the Apollonios Torso collected in 1530. One of my most favourite works is a large fresco adorning the wall of the Raphael room, the School of Athens, painted between 1509 and 1511. These are just a small sampling of the amazing collection.
After our enlightening tour of the museum we exited into a courtyard that took us directly into St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture which features many notable Baroque elements as well. It is often regarded as the greatest building of its age and at the core of the Roman Catholic religion.
From the Pieta by Michelangelo to the altar by Bernini, St. Peter’s Basilica inspires the art
lover and the religious pilgrim alike. Our guide continued with us into the church and pointed out many interesting elements of the architecture, the iconography and the historical elements. After we were left to wander on our own.
To the east of the basilica is the Piazza di San Pietro, (St. Peter’s Square), with statues of saints overlooking the square. The present arrangement, constructed between 1656 and 1667, is the Baroque inspiration of Bernini. At its centre is the Eqyptian obelisk. From there we made our way through the congested crowds outside of the walls of the Vatican for lunch.
Although this is a must see, if you have time in the Eternal city be sure to visit as many other churches as you can. They are generally open to the public and contain incredible art as well, displayed in the location it was intended. Bernini’s sculpture The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa found in the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria is a prime example.