{"id":7406,"date":"2012-08-02T13:52:50","date_gmt":"2012-08-02T17:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=7406"},"modified":"2015-07-02T15:20:58","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T19:20:58","slug":"rome-vatican-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=7406","title":{"rendered":"Rome – Vatican City"},"content":{"rendered":"

The smallest independent state in the world is beyond belief and impossible to comprehend, much less describe.\"\"<\/a>After entering through gates \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

of a very tall wall, we\u00a0visited the three most famous parts of the city (Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basicilica), but photography was tough (no flash allowed) and forbidden in the Sistine Chapel<\/strong>; so unfortunately, we cannot show you Michelangelo’s\u00a0Creation of Adam<\/em> or any of the 12,000 square feet of ceiling that he painted, nor the phenomenal Last Judgement<\/em> on the alter wall.<\/p>\n

However, the art collection in the\u00a0The Vatican Museum<\/strong> is immense enough to make you forget what you could not take pictures of, such as Raffaellino del Colle’s Adoration of the Magi<\/em>. \u00a0We did manage a couple good shots of paintings\"\"<\/a>which, of course, do not do them justice.\"\"<\/a>Sculptures were easier to photograph, such as Rodin’s The Thinker<\/em>,\"\"<\/a>Lucio Fontana’s Madonna<\/em> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

and\u00a0The Piet\u00e1<\/em> (1498\u20131499) by Michelangelo, the only<\/strong> piece he ever signed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Above is a life size model (available to touch for the blind-amazing) of the original in the Basilica.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tapestries,\"\"<\/a>floors\"\"<\/a>and ceilings were amazing and huge.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This is the model for the bronze statue in the Basilica.\"\"<\/a>Too many famous works to name, but a few more are in the gallery below.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Papal Basilica of Saint Peter (Saint Peter’s Basilica<\/strong>)\u00a0\"\"<\/a>has the largest interior of any Christian church in the World. \"\"<\/a> While it is neither the ‘Mother Church’ of the Roman Catholic Church\"\"<\/a> nor the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome;\"\"<\/a> it IS<\/em> regarded as one of the Holiest Catholic sites and\u00a0the greatest\"\"<\/a> of all Churches of Christendom….we can see why.\"\"<\/a>It was bizarre to walk the plaza \"\"<\/a>where people gather to see the Pope (part of his security)\"\"<\/a> on his public appearance in the square. \u00a0It was an incredible experience to be here!\n\t\t