Rome - Day 2

Rome – Day 2

Today I had booked a tour at the Vatican Museum.  Once again the queues were unbelievable standing out in the heat.  The water vendor charged double for a bottle of frozen water but I suppose he had a monopoly and the old adage of supply and demand stood true.

Even with a tour guide we waited to enter the museum then waited to use the ‘tour guide’ information boards before entering.  Our guide was great with good English and an informative manner.

We began with viewing the Papal gardens and Basilica dome.  Only a small portion of the gardens were available to view from our vantage point but like most things you can make a booking to view the extensive gardens, although I don't imagine you'd get to wander where the Pope does!

Then it's into the museum itself.  The museum was amazing but due to the huge crowds we were shepherded through the exhibits at a fast clip, barely allowing time to photograph anything.  

The expensive red marble stood out which was a feat in all this majesty.

The sculptures were amazing and the legends behind them intriguing, such as Diana and her bull testicles surrounding her breast to promote fertility.

Lapis lazuli was the most expensive dye available made by grinding down a block of gemstone.

The ornate ceilings had me craning my neck to get a better view.

I loved the old tapestries from the Flemish weavers.  The biblical tales they told were amazing as well as horrific.  I appreciated the level of skill involved in weaving these.  One side of the hall was covered with tapestries depicting the Old Testament while the other side had New Testament stories.

Next it was into another chapel to view the ceiling.  This is considered to be more spectacular that the Sistene Chapel.  I'd have to agree!

Stopping to admire works by Raphael you couldn’t help but wonder at the talent of these artists plus the money that was spent in decorating these premises.  How the other half live.

It was interesting to hear how Raphael 'added' Michelangelo to this picture.  The story is he did this because he respected the work he was doing.  This portrait was believed to be added later because it used different techniques.

We stop to admire more artworks.

Sistene Chapel was everything I’ve ever heard and more.  But full of people, and the guards yelling at us to keep moving and not take photos.  I half expected them to start shooting!  Mind you I managed to get a couple of snaps off myself.

Looking at Michelangelo’s work was awe inspiring.  I was lucky to find a seat to sit and admire the artworks on the roof.  Hearing the stories behind the art was helpful to me and helped put it in perspective.  I was intrigued to learn that he had painted all the figures naked but that offended the Pope so they were ‘clothed’ by another artist later.

Hence the reason all the statues have no penis or else they wear a fig leaf!  Another religious cover-up?

I posted my cards purchasing much nicer stamps with the Pope on them from another post office.  You’d think they would all be the same, wouldn’t you?

Back to the hotel for a rest then out to dinner at a local restaurant with a glass of wine.  While eating we watch a ‘cat fight’ between the local prostitutes over turf!