Rome: Vatican City

We carved out one full day to visit Vatican City, on the west side of town. We visited the Vatican Museums (after we waited in line for two long, hot hours), St. Peter's Basilica, and St. Mark's Square. This place was massive! We didn't get to visit the gardens behind the Basilica because you have to reserve like 6 months in advance.

Here is a picture of St. Peter's Basilica taken from the castle. You can see it from all over the city.

Here is the long line we waited in. We got there really early but still had to wait awhile. At least there were a few trees to keep us shaded.
Here is my cute husband. This was taken from a courtyard inside the museum.
The museum was full of statues and sculptures of popes and other religious icons. It's a tradition for Shane to take a picture like this whenever we see a sculpture. You should see the one he has with Abe Lincoln!

More sculptures. This hallway was beautiful.
We went through the "Map Room," which was filled with wall-to-wall map tapestries. I think it was my favorite room in all the Vatican (besides the Sistine Chapel of course!).

We saw the Sistine Chapel, which is in the Vatican Museum, NOT in St. Peter's Basilica. It was a huge room. What surprised us most was that it was full of people. Literally, we were all standing there shoulder to shoulder looking up at the ceiling that Michelangelo painted. No photography was allowed, and neither was talking, except for the man who kept "shooing" everyone!

After the museums, we took a shortcut over to St. Peter's Basilica. It was the one thing that was free, and it was amazing. The place it HUGE! And not just the round portico that everyone thinks of when you see it on TV. Massive! And beautiful, of course. Here is Shane right when we walked in.

And here's me.

Here is the round portico. Look how high up it is!
Here we are in front of the Basilica with our backs to St. Mark's Square.
This is the front side of St. Peter's Basilica. You can't see the basilica from this angle. If I were further back you would be able to see it.
I couldn't get all of St. Mark's Square in one picture, unfortunately, because the symmetry of it is absolutely amazing. An obelisk is in the center of the square.
We enjoyed our day at the Vatican, but we were looking forward to leaving Rome and relaxing on the train ride to Venice. See you in Venezio!