Friday in Rome – The Sistine Chapel

Friday morning we woke up to pouring rain in Rome.  Thankfully, our plans for the day included an inside tour of the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, and the Basilica of St. Peter.  However, getting to the Vatican was a bit exciting because the workers that run the metro were planning to strike at 8:30am.  So between the impending strike and the pouring rain, the metro was PACKED.  We waited on the platform for three trains to go by before we were able to take one.  A train would come in already full and yet people still managed to find a way to squeeze on.

The highlight of the day was visiting the Sistine Chapel.  The Sistine Chapel ceiling and the wall above the altar were painted by Michelangelo.  It took Michelangelo four years (1508 to 1512) to paint the ceiling, and he was not very happy about doing it.  Michelangelo’s true love was sculpting.  Later in his life, Michelangelo was asked to paint the wall above the altar and this took him four years as well (1537-1541).  It is interesting to see how Michelangelo changed to a darker, expressive style on the altar wall.  The chapel is where the Cardinals meet to select a new Pope.

These pictures are lifted from the web that I am using in one of my courses here – pictures aren’t allowed to be taken in the chapel.   

The Sistine Chapl ceiling:    

After the Sistine Chapel, we walked through the Basilica of St. Peter.  It is an enormous church.  The letters on the molding at the top of the walls are 7 feet tall!

One of Michelangelo’s famous sculptures (La Pietà) is in St. Peter’s.  It is very beautiful!

St. Peter’s Square

Nicholas and Thomas in front of the Basilica of St. Peter

We came home to Florence Friday evening and said goodbye to my Mom, Dad, Heidi, Derek, and Maria’s Mom.  We were very sad to see them go!  They got up very early Saturday morning to fly back to the United States.