Sev was again our fearless leader as we explored Vatican City. It is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population and came into existence in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and Italy, While in Vatican City, we explored the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. In the photo below, our traveling quartet is in the Vatican Museum grounds with the dome of St. Peter’s in the background.
After touring the museum, we went on to the Sistine Chapel. We were not allowed to take any photos there, but I was very impressed at the vividness of all the colors. Wall to wall people, however, made it anything but a spiritual experience.
Finally, we arrived at St. Peter’s Basilica. By Catholic tradition, the Basilica is the burial site of its namesake, St. Peter, There has been a church on this site since the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine I. Construction of the present basilica began 1506 and was completed 1626. It is the largest church in Christendom covering 5.7 acres. There is standing room for 65,000 people, as many as the Coliseum. Below is a photo inside St. Peter’s.
Michelangelo’s Pieta was carved from a single slab of marble and is the only piece he ever signed. Although this is my first time to St. Peter’s, it is the second time for me to see this beautiful sculpture. In 1964, it was loaned to the New York World’s Fair which I attended when I was 15.
The space in front of St. Peter’s Basilica was being prepared for the Wednesday audience with the pope.
Tonight is our last night here. We leave Rome in the morning bound for Florence.
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