If you ever go to Rome, a must-see is the Vatican. St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel to be exact. Our hotel, the Atlante Star, was within walking distance. As a matter of fact, we could see the Vatican from the dining room where we had our delightful breakfasts, and an elegant, delicious, (and expensive) dinner!!! All around the Vatican are "hawkers" trying to get you to buy one of their tours. When we found out that you bypassed the long lines trailing alongside the wall of the Vatican, we decided to spend the extra for a private group tour. We really lucked out...our tour guide was fabulous! Excellent English and an artist in her own right...she also was mindful of the heat and crowds when and where she grouped us so that she could give us her spiel.
We started out in the Vatican museum...
You have to keep your eyes peeled, look up, look down, look all around...because every inch of space is fascinating and oh, so beautiful...
The blue tile in the floor is done with Lapis Lazuli...very hard to come by in the days that this was built. It was considered royal...
On the way to the Sistene Chapel...but alas, no cameras allowed in the Chapel...no talking either...funny thing though, we were about the only ones who felt it appropriate to show respect for their rules...
This again is another example of my thinking that the closer to off season you travel to Rome the better. It was incredibly crowded in the museum and the Chapel...literally wall to wall people. Never the less, it should be on everyone's bucket list...it's a must!!!
