Return To The Vatican

Our first few visits to the Vatican had been brief, so we scheduled a more comprehensive tour toward the end of our trip. We had a quick breakfast at our hotel and set out to meet our tour guide for the day.

Back at St. Peter's Square

We met our tour guide and headed straight to the Sistine Chapel so we could enjoy the view before the crowds began to show up. It was amazing to say the least (no photographs are allowed- they damage the paint). We spent some quiet time inside the Chapel and worked our way through some of the Vatican highlights. It would take days to see the full collections, but it was an excellent "first look."

Tapestry inside the Raphael Room

Another piece by Raphael

We were awestruck

Vatican courtyard

Inside St. Peter's Bascilica (3 football fields long!)

The famed "Pieta" by Michelangelo

Considering everything we saw that day, this post is rather short, but pictures simply do not do these museums justice. Vince and I left the Vatican that day with an immense respect for the artists of Roman times and the force that inspired them.