Day 4 - The Vatican (Wednesday 9 Nov 2011)

Amazing!! After heading out and after a minor mistake reading the map (who understands Italian anyway!) we turned a corner and there was Vatican City and we were at St Peters Basilica. There were a few large screens and a priest speaking, of course we had no idea what was being said. Then before long the Pope appeared on the screen, talk about good timing. Apparently the Pope speaks every Wednesday and Sunday.

We joined a tour and spent the afternoon walking around Vatican City. Although the tour guide was a little over the top at times - rambled on and  on - all in all it was amazing!

St Peter's Basilica

Yes, it's the Pope speaking!

St Peter's Square, btw my boyfriend is the one in the stripe shirt

View of St Peter's Dome within Vatican City

So many statues and amazing paintings

I was fasinated in the painting - The School of Athens by Raphael,  - Raphael is in this one

Below is Michaelangelo - information from http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Raphael-Vatican.html

This figure is not on the original cartoons by Raphael, it is a later addition by the artist.

The rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo was intense, Michelangelo had accused his young rival of trying to poison him. The first part of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling was unveiled, to great acclaim, on August 14th 1511. Raphael's reaction was to include a portrait of a weeping Michelangelo as Heraclitus, into this already finished masterpiece, in a parody of Michelangelo's style.

View of St Peter's from the hotel rooftop