What started out as a day to visit the Spanish steps and Villa Borghese, it turned out to be a day at the Vatican City.
We got news about the Vatican being closed on Thursday and were advised to go visit the Vatican so as not to miss it. So off we went. And boy were we lucky!
Wednesdays, the Pope gives a public appearance for the 10 am service. We were lucky to see him albeit from far. But the congrgation of people is another sight altogether. The aura around St. Peters square is mesmerising.
After lingering around for a while, we queued up for entering the Vatican Museums. It was quite a long queue but worth the wait. We picked up an audio guide which does more justice than a real guide letting you hear as per your interests. To say that you can cover the museum in 1 day would be a joke. In fact for most things in Rome, any amount of time spent seems less.
The museum hold artifacts which have a rich history and exhibit the quality of the artisans in full glory. Amongst rooms full of sculptures, paintings, frescoes and myraid items, the epitome has to be the Sistine Chapel. This is Michealangelos piece de resistance. To think one could paint such a huge ceiling at a young age of 33, is mindblowing.
The St. Peters Basillica takes grandeur to a totally different level. The size of the sculptures that adorn the walls of the basillica, from the inside and the outside, are bound to leave you awestruck. I have never been left as dumbfounded as I was during the visit to the basillica.
To be able to live within the walls of the Vatican city must be so redeeming since everything is so full of history & spirituality.
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