Rome, Vatican City

1 July
Rome, Vatican City

Arrival at the Vatican City – the smallest sovereign state in the world since late 1920's! With a population of – it even has it's own printed newspaper within the city walls. Walking toward the awaiting queue after collecting our reserved tickets, we were instructed by the Swiss Guard to join the queue. Hang on, I thought we were supposed to just get in? These people had obviously bought tickets too. Then, all of a sudden a tour operator dude, with nothing to do with us at all, ushered us back to the front of the groups queue. With not one group in sight he put us in the front of the line! It must have been either my or Nicks (come to think of it) dashing good looks or our colgate smile! Regardless, we were very grateful not to stand at the end of the shongalolo (millipede). Having said that, the one woman was totally irate with this celebrity entrance arrangement and could not stop muttering in her worst English that this was totally unacceptable. What can you do? Not everyone cracks VIP treatment!

There was an audio guide included on our ticket (as were all the other visits on tickets) but we heard you could upgrade to a tour guide for information on Christianity, art and architecture (opposed to only Christianity) for 15 Euro's each. As we had bought this Roma Christiana ticket, we were given 5 Euro p.person off! Score! Well, worth it! The most eloquent Itailan man. His mouth rounded every word. His passion for this city so strong that when he spoke, you hung on to every syllable.

The history behind these buildings and the assets between their walls is astonishing. One of them, Michaelangelo's Pieta.

Something I have wanted to see all my life. The story goes that he, Michaelangelo, was only about 24 years old when he sculptured this work of art not yet reaching his fame. It was placed in the Basilica and there were a set of critics who said that there were discrepancies. Things like, Mary was so large in size in comparison to her dead son and that Mary looked too young. He was so upset by these remarks that he broke into the Basilica and chisled his signature into her chest – out of pride for his first major work. It was also the only thing he ever signed as in those days one did not sign work. Michaelangelo also said that the reason for Mary's size was she was Jesus' mother and she was always without sin, so she would never age. Good answers, I thought.


In the Basilica you find tombs of past Popes. The most interesting was Pope John the XXIII. He died 40 years ago, then the new Pope had ordered to open his tomb. When they opened the body was perfectly intact. No decomposing or change to the body at all!

This is said to be a sure sign of sainthood and his body is now placed in a glass tomb for all to see. And Pope John the XXIII truly does look perfect in body. Such an incredible story!

Here, they have also found the exact place of St. Peters death, a piece of Jesus' wooden cross and the spear that killed him. Bernini's golden shrine in bronze is so enormous you can only wonder how he managed to create something that size in those years. Michaelangelo's dome is so high itself, it can fit the Statue of Liberty in it and then some. The gold work right through the building is something to marvel over. There is also a type of marble, the most expensive and rare in the world. It is called red porphyry and is more expensive than diamonds as it cannot be found any more. The Vatican owns 80% of this porphyry in the whole world.

In St. Peters Square there is a massive obelisk. It was transported from Egypt in lentils on boats and is more than 2000 years old. It also marks the place where St. Peter was crucified. Years later, they had to move the obelisk. The Pope demanded silence for the duration. If you broke the silence you would be condemned to death. There was a sailor that noticed that the rope was breaking and shouted out “Water on the ropes”! Instead of being condemned to death, he was rewarded by the Pope and given Vatican citizenship. To this day, about 400 years later, his family still decorates the Basilica before mass with flowers.

This is a visit for Catholics and non, for agnostic or atheist, for art lover or hater (with potential conversion), architect or quantity surveyor. It is for everyone. The sense of human history here is so strong that there is something to interest everyone.

We moved on to see the Vatican Museum which houses the Sistine Chapel. We skipped the queue rightfully – thanks to our ticket. It must have been a seriously uncomfortable wait in the sun. TIP: Always try and book tickets prior (unless you want a sunburn, dehydration and sore feet before you even enter).

Again we saw most of the Ninja Turtles! Best of all was the work within the Sistine Chapel. The Last Judgement was especially beautiful. The Creation of Man is dead centre ceiling but to me, almost hidden. I suppose after seeing it in textbooks and around – I expected it to be this one huge vivid image. None the less – spectacular. The Chapel itself is not what I expected – but in truth – one big canvas and celebration of art. Michaelangelo had done partial of the upper walls and ceiling when he was around30 years old. He protested in doing the work initially as he thought himself a sculptor, not a painter. He then went on to paint The Last Judgement at 60 years old. You can see the slight difference in colour with more confidence when he was older. Michalangelo must have been a remarkable man. His knowledge of all aspects of Christianity, antiquity and Dante's “The Divine Comedy” were incorporated in his work.

You will, however, find that the million other tourists gathered in this sacred place are taking photographs – with and without flash. There are many signs, many Swiss Guards and voice-overs expressing the absolute “no photo” policies in various languages. Yet, they carried on and on. Unfortunately, this damages the frescoes and these numb nuts are too selfish and careless to obey. Quite frustrating.

We visited the many rooms with the Renaissance era in focus, the Egyptians and other relics. So much art and history to see you are truly bound to be super nashed by the end of it. And we were...

Our Roma Christiana Hop On Hop Off bus stop was right outside the Vatican. Our feet stung with the days walking. We literally hopped on and did not hop off until we did a full circle of Roma. In our tiredness we saw Bernini's bridge, the Colloseum and more whilst listening to our audio guides. Once it ended we headed home by tube then bus and had an early night.