Saturday, 5 September 2015
Rome, Italy
Temps: HI 81F (27C) / Lo 72F (22C)
If anything, the queue to get into St Peter’s Basilica was longer when we returned to the Vatican this afternoon … thus validating our decision to buy timed-entry tickets that bypass the line.
Arriving shortly after 2:00p, we checked in with Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi … essentially the tour entity of the Vatican, directly overseen by the Cardinal Vicar to the Pope. We were then escorted as a group to St Peter’s Square where the security checkpoints are located. A dedicated checkpoint processed our group before we continued on to the basilica.
Since it was a sunny, blue sky day, we decided to spend a few additional Euros to go up to the cupola first … chose the elevator + 320 steps option. Worth every single penny to not only get up close to view the details of the central dome, but to go out to an observation balcony with 360-views of the cityscape.
The central dome is one of the largest in the world. …
… It rises just over 448 feet (136.5 m) from the floor of the basilica.
Aerial view from the cupola balcony … the big building that lies diagonally from left
to right is the Vatican Museum, with the Sistine Chapel at the far end on the right.
St Peter’s Square and beyond.
Round and round and round we next walked down to visit the basilica itself. What an awesome place. I was impressed with the mosaic altar pieces that looked like paintings, but the lace-like carvings of the vestments of some of the marble statues truly wowed me. Then there was the Pieta … breathtakingly beautiful … even though it now resides behind bulletproof glass … and has ever since it was attacked by a crazed man with a hammer in 1972.
We wandered around for quite a while, and I took quite a few photos in the areas that were not cordoned off for mass, but I will share only one ‘fake’ postcard here.
Basilica di San Pietro … looking across Maderno’s nave to Bernini's Baldacchino and the chancel.
That I could have spent all day here studying intricate details goes without saying. If all you’re going to do is spend time in the basilica, you can go at any time during the day; but if you plan to go up to the cupola to enjoy the cityscape, then afternoon would be best.
© 2004-2015 Two to Travel. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED by ERIN ERKUN.
Exquisite photos. So enjoyable to see the view on such a pretty day.
ReplyDeleteThere's something about that Bernini baldachin... the stuff of nightmares. I've never like it.
I'm so jealous.
ReplyDeleteSounds like security has sure picked up. Last time we were there, you could stroll around St Peter's on your own. Only needed to sign up for a roof tour.
ReplyDeleteYou can still stroll around St Peter's Square on your own no problem, but since Pope Francis was elected, the crowds have grown tremendously, and getting into St Peter's Basilica requires really long wait times in line, unless you pay to bypass the queue. When Mui was in Rome with his mom three years ago, they walked right into the Basilica ... goes to show how a popular Pope will boost tourism.
ReplyDeleteIs that Michelangelo's Pieta? I was enamored with him as a 14 year old, and studied his art and his life. Wrote my first term paper for high school on Michelangelo. Ah yes...Florence is on my agenda, of course. Can you even see the Sistine Chapel inside any more?
ReplyDeleteYes; that's his Pieta. Sistine Chapel ... as you noted in your comment on the next post, can still be visited. It is part of the museum complex, thus requires admission.
ReplyDelete