The Vatican museum is gorgeous and has so much art in addition to the Sistine Chapel. I wasn't expecting so much non-Christian art, but they had all kinds of greek mythology and egyptian art in addition to Catholic doctrine and history. The big finale was of course the Sistine Chapel, but much of the other rooms were marvelous as well. My favorites were the hall of maps and the room of the Immaculate Conception.
Side note: I've been using the free app from Rick Steves to download a bunch of audio walking tours. It has been really helpful, because we don't have to pay for an audio set at each place and it comes with a script, so Dan can read the important stuff. I've used it at almost every place we've been. Rick is really corny, but the facts are interesting and have really added to the experience at each place. For instance, I didn't know that Michelangelo was only 24 when he finished the Pieta!
One room was dedicated to sculptures of animals.
This is the hall of maps of different parts of Italy.
The famous fresco by Raphael.
We spent a good amount of time in the Sistine Chapel (no pictures). It was crowded, but not completely packed like I was expecting. We brought a small hand mirror so our necks wouldn't get tired (a tip I read online). Next we went to Mass at St. Peter's Basilica.
The light streaming in from Michelangelo's dome was gorgeous.
The altar above St. Peter's tomb.
Michelangelo's Pieta
We finished off the day with delicious pasta and wine and the Trevi Fountain lit up at night.
(The movies don't show the huge crowd!)
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