After having breakfast at the hotel between 7 and 8 AM, we set off to explore the smallest state in the world, Vatican City, and other holy sites outside the walled city.
Travel tip: If you're planning to visit the Vatican Museums, I suggest you go as early as possible, as the queues tend to be a mile long even as early as 8 AM, most especially during the last Sunday of the month when entrance is free of charge but the opening times are much shorter. During our visit, we spent an hour and a half just waiting in line to get inside and thus, was only able to explore it for about an hour and so before we headed to St. Peter's Square to witness the Pope for the Sunday Angelus, and his 15-20 minute public speech. We were already in line at around a little past 8 AM as our hotel was just about 10-15 minutes away from the walled city.
VATICAN MUSEUMS - SISTINE CHAPEL
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| Musei Vaticani |
Inside the Vatican Museums, there are different routes you can take depending on the time frame that you have - there are shorter and longer routes that you can follow. Since we were already pressed with time, we had to follow the shorter stay route.
Priority one was obviously to marvel at the stiff-neck inducing beauty of Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
It is forbidden to take photos of the chapel as a form of respect. Although during my visit, there were still some folks who would risk being caught by the guards just to take those photos. If ever you do try to take some snaps inside and got caught, apart from the shame and the judgmental looks people would throw your way, they would ask for you to delete the photo/s while they watch - and believe me, it's quite an embarrassing scene. So if I were you, just quietly admire the chapel as normal law-abiding people do.
Named after the Pope Sixtus IV, whose name in Italian is "Sisto," the Capella Sistina served then and now as the pope's private chapel. A plain chapel from the outside, all of its entrances are internal and it has no grand facade. Michelangelo's frescoes tell of the 2 stories: one side told of the story of Moses, while the other that of Christ. Learn more about The Sistine Chapel by clicking on the link.
After about half an hour and a stiff neck, we then headed back to the museums to quickly pass by some religious articles and works of art.
Then went straight back out of the walled city, and into the already massive crowds gathered inside St. Peter's Square to witness the Pope for the Sunday Angelus, and his short public speech from one of the windows of the Papal residence.
ST. PETER'S SQUARE
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| St. Peter's Square |
Piazza San Pietro is located in front of the world's greatest basilica, that of St. Peter's. It represents the core of the Holy City. At the center of the square is an Egyptian obelisk without hieroglyphs, brought to Rome in 37 B.C. Bernini took over the construction of the square's colonnade composed of 284 columns and 88 pillars in a quadruple row, which for him, symbolises the 'gathering of Christianity.'
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| St. Peter's Square |
Walking from Via Della Conciliazione up to the square, the impressive landmark ultimately leads up to an equally impressive basilica, St. Peter's. Length of stay: minimum of 30 minutes
ST. PETER'S BASILICA
With a whopping 15160 meters of internal area, making it the largest basilica in the world, St. Peter's Basilica is one of the holiest sites of Roman Catholicism. It is home to about a hundred tombs, including those of Roman Emperor Otto II and Swedish Queen Christina.
A. CUPOLA
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| View from inside the cupola |
St. Peter's Basilica has 2 entrance queues: one for the basilica, and one for the dome. The magnificent 41-meter high dome was designed by none other than the great Bernini. Entrance to the dome is worth 8 euros if you're taking the elevator to the roof level (you will pay less if you take the stairs) - but the queue was agonisingly long and slow-moving as there's only one cashier and you can only pay by cash.
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| Roof level |
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| Climbing the Cupola |
There are a total of 551 steps to the Cupola. But if you take the elevator to the roof level, you deduct about 231 steps. However, the remaining 320 steps are not to be belittled! There were parts that are slippery or steps that were strikingly steep, and there were also some parts when you can only hold on to a rope to climb up. So it is not an undertaking for those with cardiac or other health problems. Mind you though, in addition to the views as you look down the interiors of the basilica, the 360 views outside and on the top of the dome are absolutely worth the climb.
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| St. Peter's Square from the top of Cupola |
We waited for about an hour in line to get inside, and then add about 30 minutes to climb the stairs to the top. It was quite an exciting experience for the fit and able. Length of stay: about 2 hours.
B. BASILICA
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| Inside St. Peter's Basilica |
After descending from the dome, we then headed to explore the magnificent interiors of the basilica.
Take note that since this is a place of worship, there are strict rules being implemented. Among the most important 'need-to-know' would be the dress code; you may be turned away or escorted out if you are not dressed appropriately. To know more about them: click here.
Inside, I couldn't even decide where to begin. It was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen in my life - I had goosebumps upon entering this massive structure.
- The La Pieta (Italian for 'pity'): another one of Michelangelo's masterpieces, this is probably one of the most famous sculptures of a religious subject; it depicts the grief-stricken Virgin Mary with the dead Christ on her arms
- St. Peter's Treasury: contains a wide collection of valuable articles, usually gifts of kings or princes; admission fee applies
- Vatican Grottoes: house the tombs of popes, with Pope John Paul II being among the most famously visited ones; free entry
Length of stay: minimum of 1 hour
CHANCE CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH THE POPE
After perusing the inside of the basilica, it was time to head out for lunch. We were already starving by this time as it was almost 3 in the afternoon. While walking towards McDonald's along Borgo Pio, there was a small crowd gathered outside the Porta Sant'Anna gate. We asked some of the onlookers, and they were not sure as well whether people have gathered to have a chance to glimpse at the Pope up close. But since there were Swiss guards stationed outside the cordoned gate, it was not hard to believe that there is a huge possibility that we may see Pope Francis.
And true enough, after about 10 minutes of waiting, the Pope came out of Chiesa parrochialle di Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri and entered a humble Ford car, dropped down the window and waved as he passed us dumbfounded and shocked spectators on the way to God knows where.
It was one of the most spine-chilling 30 seconds of my life that left me a bit tearful. I could not believe how close I was to the Pope! It was a priceless once in lifetime moment.
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| Castel Sant'Angelo |
We then headed towards Castel Sant'Angelo, but opted not to enter anymore as at that time, it was already approaching dusk, and we wanted to catch the golden hour at Gianicolo. So we took a bus towards the hill.
GIANICOLO/JANICULUM
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| At Gianicolo |
BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA IN TRASTEVERE
We then took the bus headed down to Trastevere to visit the Basilica di Santa Maria.
This basilica is said to be the oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome. Inside, marvel at the 12-century mosaics, and in the apse, look out for Christ and the Holy Mother flanked by various saints with Pope Innocent II on the far left holding a model of the church.
According to legends, the church was built was on the spot where a fountain of oil miraculously sprang from the ground. Recommended length of stay: about 30 minutes
DINNER: TRATTORIA IL DUCA
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| Fried Artichokes |
Trastevere is a good place to find a place to eat for dinner. So we explored its alleyways to find somewhere to dine, and we chose Il Duca.
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| Lasagna and steak |
Tucked along Vicolo de' Cinque, Il Duca offers not just an expanse of comfortable dining atmosphere, but also an extensive menu with great-tasting food. The servings were generous and the prices are relatively affordable. We ordered steak, lasagna, and artichokes, and some drinks. And all three of them were heavenly! I was especially surprised with how much I loved the simply-cooked artichokes (which were in season when we visited). The staff were incredibly friendly and very accommodating. We spent 22 euros pp - I was stuffed to the brim, and we even had take-away. So I would say I will definitely go back to try out their other dishes.
VENDITA LIBRI/CHOCOLATE E VINO
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| Aperitivo |
We capped the day with aperitivo at a nearby cocktail bar also along the same street, Vendita Libri/ Chocolate e Vino. It had a lively and chilled atmosphere inside and it was packed, which was a good sign. For good-tasting aperitivo, we spent about 13 euros pp. I recommend this as a good place to end your day. Try out their chocolate shots!
We then took the bus to head back to our hotel after crossing the Ponte Sisto, and retired for the night.
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