Today we played tourist and ‘did’ two half day excursions which tested our endurance and were often very frustrating because of the number of people also doing tours.
We arrived on time for our first 9.00am “skip the line” tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. It started well when we did skip the line into the Vatican museum but then we joined the queue. Our guide said that 32,000 people a day pass through the Vatican and it was not even high season!
This is the central square around which are literally kilometres of galleries that make up the Vatican museum
We passed through a number of beautiful rooms and corridors but could not really enjoy it because of the crowds who jostled for the right photo.
I particularly enjoyed the tapestries.
We came to a series of rooms which previous popes had used as audience rooms and one room which had been painted by Botticelli. Just beautiful but so many tour guides speaking and so many people all in one small space!
Frescoes on the ceiling
I liked the lower frescoes of people holding up the panels!
A long and tortured journey towards the Sistine Chapel which is smaller than one thinks. No photos are allowed. The guide had done a good job of orienting us to what to look for on the ceiling. The frescoes have recently been restored so the colours were amazing but you got a sore neck looking up all the time. So many people and so little silence with the attendants calling for silenzio and no photos and groups continuing their conversations! Luckily we snagged a seat around the perimeter – I think where the cardinals sit for the convocation – and then we could enjoy the view but all the time it was crowded. Anthony was very naughty and took some surreptious photos with the camera in his hat.
The tour ended at the basilica and we were free to spend as much time as we wanted. However, it was very crowded with pilgrims from all around the world and roped off areas with seats.
It’s a very beautiful church with many rich decorations.
Michaelenaglelo’s pieta behind glass
Finally feeling orientated when we stepped outside the church because you see the view of the square where the pope says masses.
By the end of the three hours I was over it and needed feeding immediately! In hindsight it would have been better to do a 6.30am breakfast tour or one of the evening tours which are more expensive but possibly so much more enjoyable and quieter!
After moving away from the tourist areas we found a lovely little quiet trattoria which fed us pasta, insalata and wine.
Refreshed, we made our way back to metro back to Termini and to our next tour which started at 3pm at the Colosseum and included the Roman forum and Palantine Hill.
Once again the area was packed with tourists although not quite as bad as the Vatican. The tour guide was quite good but guides just keep talking even though you may not be able to see what they are talking about at the back of the group.
But amazing to be here!
We then made our way down to the forum Romanum where we travelled back in time and 5 metres below street level. The problem with the forum is that it is a mixture of Roman history from the 6th century BC (the cloaca the ancient sewer) to 2nd/3rd century basilica and other additions so it is hard to sort out but still amazing to visit.
We then climbed the Palantine Hill. Wonderful views from the hill.
We then climbed further up the hill behind the forum to look at the Imperial Palace which was constructed by the Flavians (Vespasian, Titus and Domitian who were also responsible for the Colosseum). These palaces were enormous and also included the civil service which also operates out of the palace. Little remains except the extent of the complex.
Imperial library
To say we were tired would be an understatement. We dragged our weary bodies back home after 11 hours of culture!
Travelling with Teresa 