Rome: Afternoon Day 6

September 9

Castel Sant'Angelo

Since we were not able to access St. Peters from the vatican due to the Pope being in town we headed to Castel Sant' Angelo for a little bit until St. Peters reopened.  The Castel Sant' Angelo was built as tomb for the Emperor Hadrian(139 AD), but as Rome fell it became a fortress and prison.  Then in 1277 it connected to the Vatican and become a place of refuge for threatened popes.

a diagonal ramp across the middle of the Castel.

the Treasury room where they kept the Vatican's treasure when under threat.  

Where the Pope would stay

Although this wasn't a "must see"  it did have a beautiful view Vatican city and St. Peters at the top.

A statue of the archangel Michael (whom the Castel was named after)

Thought this bridge was just beautiful.

St. Peters

St. Peter's is probably the most famous church in Christendom.  St. Peters is where the grandeur of ancient Rome became the grandeur of Christianity.  Built on the grave of the first pope, St. Peter it houses Michelangelo and Bernini in one spectacular building.

Walking to St. Peters from Castel Sant' Angelo.  When we first arrived the line for St. Peters was massive and those offering tours said the wait would be 2 hours!  However it went by really fast and it only took 1/2 hour to get in.

The Swiss Guards that guard Vatican city.  It is said that Michelangelo designed their uniforms.

When you first walk in you are taken aback by its grandeur.  Its simply beautiful.

Michelangelo's dome.  Michelangelo was 71 years old when asked by the pope to take over the church project, but died after he'd completed only the drum of the dome.

At the base of the dome are the words (in Latin) that Jesus spoke to his disciple Peter "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and to you will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:18)

Bernini's Bronze canopy over the main alter and is used only when the pope himself conducts Mass.

Under the alter (23 feet) rest the bones of St. Peter.  St. Peter came to the wicked city of Rome after Jesus' death to spread the gospel.  His preaching offended Emperor Nero and Peter was arrested, crucified upside down, and buried here.  Are they really his bones, according to a papal announcement: definitely maybe. In 1940 the tomb was opened for archeological study and bones were found, dated from the 1st century to a man who died in old age and wrapped in expensive cloth.  Brad and I tried to get a Scavi tour to go beneath the basilica to see the tomb, and since it is closed to the general public you have to send an email to the vatican to get tickets since it is so limited.  Unfortunately we weren't able to get the tickets for the tour.

The Bronze statue of Peter.  

As a sign of reverence people stand in line and kiss their hand and rub Peter's right toe.

The Dove window designed by Bernini.

Michelangelo's stunningly beautiful Pieta.  Michelangelo was only 24 years old when he completed this of Mary mourning the dead body of Christ taken from the cross.  This is Michelangelo's only signed work and in the 1970's a madman came in with a hammer and began to attack the Pieta.  The damage was repaired, but it is now behind bullet proof glass.

Listening to another downloaded audio tour of the basilica. 

the Crypt where you see the tombs of the Popes including Pope John Paul II

Brad and I both agreed that seeing St. Peters made us think of the book Angel's and Demons, it has been so long since I read it though that I don't remember all the details.  It would be fun to re-read it now that I've been to St. Peters and can visualize more perfectly what the book is describing.

We unfortunately didn't climb to the top of the dome to get a look at the beautiful view of the city, but we were both tired from a long day, and I was starting to feel sick so we just made our way back to our hotel.