Vatican City

Monday morning had Jim and I standing in line in Saint Peter's Square to take our much-anticipated tour of the Vatican.

The square is HUGE.  The entire walk up, you're staring at Saint Peter's Basilica and there are just no words for how beautiful it is.  

A papal welcome.....

Even the doors were breath-taking!  Each panel tells a different story from the Bible.  The "Holy Door" (below) is only open in jubilee years.....every 25 years.  

Our tour guide gave us ear buds so that we could still hear the instructions in case we got separated in the crowd.  Speaking of the crowd......goodness gracious it was jam-packed inside!!  

Inside the Vatican Museum ......

After walking through the Vatican Museum, we entered the Sistine Chapel.  The crowd was so overwhelming that I didn't even think to take photos.  I've never been in a crowd that big.  

Breathing a little easier in a bit of open space....

The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica.....

Directly under the dome is the baldachhino.  It is the largest piece of bronze in the world standing 98 ft tall.  Legend has it that Saint Peter is buried (after being crucified upside down) under the pavilion. 

We caught a glimpse of the Papal Swiss Guard while leaving the basilica.  The Papal Swiss Guard has one job:  ensure the safety of the pope.  This dude (below) was no-nonsense and refused to even look at you.  

Fun fact:  To be a Swiss Guard, you must be a male between 19-30 yrs of age, at least 5 ft 8.5 inches tall, single and Catholic. 

So.......I broke my camera leaving the Vatican.  Yep, I could not believe it.  The rest of the photos had to be taken with our iPhones.  

Fast forward to our last night in Rome.  I mentioned the Piazza Navona in an earlier post.  This square was absolutely gorgeous!  

We spent our last evening at a front row table looking out at the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers).  The monument was erected in the 1600's.  Look closely at the shape.....it was used 200 years later in the design of the Eiffel Tower.  

Jim & I were eating dinner listening to a band in the middle of the square (the guitarist did an awesome Santana!).  All of a sudden, this guy stands in front of our table and bursts into song.  Hearing the sound of his baritone voice, we could do nothing but stop and stare.  Our own personal serenade! :)