The first portion of these pictures are from Vatican City in Rome. It was incredible. My brother and I took a guided tour, considering the city is roughly 7 miles long-- it's a bit overwhelming. By the end of the tour we could barely walk we were so tired!
Our guide noted that if someone were to look at each piece of work in the Vatican, for one minute, they would be there for 12 years. Say whaat?!
To begin, the Vatican is a centre of power for Catholics all over the world and a sovereign state since 1929, which is ruled by the pope. About 1,000 people live there.
This is the view from the top of St. Peter's Basilica. The Basilica was completed in 1506, after taking more than a century to build.
---One thing I couldn't take pictures of is Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. It was hands-down the most beautiful, breathtaking thing I have ever seen. It is composed of two major masterpieces. The first is the ceiling-- which consists of 12 different portaits, portraying the Creation of the World and Fall of Man, surrounded by subjects from the Old and New Testaments. It was built between 1508-1512.
Apparently, Michelangelo wasn't a fan of the Pope Julius II who commissioned him to do the work. But, if the pope asks you to do something.. you oblige. To get his secret revenge against the pope, Michelangelo painted small children giving him the finger. :)
The second master piece in the Sistine Chapel is The Last Judgement. Michelangelo worked alone on the fresco for seven years, until its completion in 1541. He actually went temporarily blind after he completed it, from looking up for 7 years! The painting depicts the souls of the dead rising up to face the wrath of God. It is a very emotional work of art.
Above the alter is the enormous dome of St. Peter's. It was designed by Michelangelo and is 448 ft. high!
It was very difficult to take pictures inside St. Peter's. Everything was so enormous, and no picture could do it justice. So I decided to take a quick video showing you around :)
Around Roma:
The Spanish Steps, built in the 17th century.
This Roman column supports a statue of the Virgin Mary.
The Trevi Fountain!
This is Pantheon, 2,000 years old, and the largest surviving temples of ancient Rome.
Inside the Pantheon, wish I could be there when it was raining!
Piazza Navona.
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.
Fontana del Moro, portraying the sea god.
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