My tour was due to start at 8am so I had to be up super early to get the train there. We first headed into the Vatican museum entry and gained entry. Then we stopped for a while so our guide could explain the Sistine chapel and it's paintings. Inside the chapel is complete silence so she had to explain early. Interestingly, Michelangelo was blackmailed into painting the roof by the Pope! It took him 6yrs to paint. We went outside to see the dome of St Peter's Basilica before going in to a gallery full of art. Some of it was painted directly onto wood. The change in technique was obvious as a painter aged and between the different eras. Then there was a room full of tapestries. Many of them were made from actual silver and gold thread. They were huge!
After that we walked through some other galleries and saw tons of scupltures & relics (vases, urns etc). There were some very ornate coffins that looked like bath tubs!
We went to the Etrusian gallery which has a collection of Etrusian artifacts (people in Rome before Romans). They made incredibly delicate & beautiful gold headpieces (real gold) for the dead bodies. What a waste lol! You make this beautiful headband and out it in the ground, never to be seen again!
Next we joined everyone else in the Vatican (my tour had VIP sections). The rule is that you stop on the right, you walk on the left. My guide told a Chinese tour group leader off for not doing that as his huge group was blocking the walkway! They had some paintings in there of maps of Italy, made back in the BC era which are 90% accurate.
We then joined everyone in the Sistene chapel. So, no talking and absolutely NO photographs. The guards yell at you of they catch you. I thought it was a strange rule, considering everywhere else in the Vatican you can take pictures and videos. But my guide explained that in 1988-1993 (I think that's right) the Vatican got a Japanese restoration company in to clean the roof. The company were not paid in money, instead the Vatican gave them copyright privileges. Therefore since it is now copyrighted you cannot take photos or videos. I did see a ton of people both openly talking photos or covertly taking photos. It is amazing that it took Michelangelo 6yrs to paint the massive roof but 10yrs to paint the front wall behind the alter.
Lastly we went to St Peter's Basilica. It is the lingest church in the world & they put names & lengths of others churches on the floor to prove it. While I despise all religion I can admire the architectures and this church is so ornate and full of marble. They even have a real body of a pope on display. They said he is a miracle as they dug him up after 40yrs and discovered he had no signs of decomp so they put him on display. Thry claim that is his second miracle (first was aone lady on crutches went to see him for a blessing and he healed her & she walked out without crutches) which makes him a saint and saints get out into the alters at the church. All the others go underground in the tombs. Oh and there is not a single painting in St Peter's Basilica. None! Every single one is actually a tile mosaic! I couldn't believe it but up close you can see it. It took 100yrs to build the Basilica and I can see why.
Our tour finished & myself and another girl decided to climb the dome of the Basilica. It was 463 steps to the top. Yep, more steps! The views at the top were amazing though.
Next I left, saw a Swiss Guard (terrible uniform!) then headed to the Castel Sant'Angelo. I took photos from the outside then continued to Piazza Navona. After a look I confined to the Pantheon. It was free to enter so I had a look inside. Nice but I'm getting over the churches now lol.
Next was Trevi Fountain. I thought it would be busy and it turned out to be chock-a-block! I took photos and left, deciding to come back at night when it might be quieter. I went to a highly recommended gelato shop, Giolitti. It was amazing! Raspberry gelato, nutella gelato and whipped cream. The nutella one tasted almost like nutella from the jar, not icecream!
Next I went to Largo Torre Argentina to see the ruins and the cats. There is a colony of cats that live there and are now being cared for by some volunteers. I got to play with the cats and got a tshirt to support them.
After that I went back to my room as my feet were killing me. I had dinner in the bar (more free pasta) then headed back out. I went and took night photos of the colosseum, piramide, St Peter's Basilica, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.
Then I went back to my room as I had to be up early to go to Vesuvius and Pompeii in the morning.
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