No matter how many times you see it, the Basilica of Saint Peter is a lovely place, the spiritual home for all Roman Catholics.
The colonade around St Peters Square is delightful, especially when you consider that they set it up with string lines and water or spirit levels.
The interior of part of St Peters.
Just one of the altars in one of the chapels.
This magnificent canopy is over the main altar in the centre of the basilica.
This chapel has a permanent exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
A closer view of the main altar. The number of people in the basilica is rather daunting at first, but you get used to it. There seemed to be about five times the number of people of five years ago.
This is part of the queue to go up to the cupola or dome of the basilica. The door to the lift is at the front of the queue. However, the lift (EU11.00 each) only takes you about half way. Considering that it cuts the approximately 700 steps in half, it's a bargain!
Our first view of the cupola from about half way up.
This is a view of the Papal Palace from the half-way point.
This is a view across the "roof" of the basilica from the half way up point. That's scaffolding in the middle ground - and a lonely wheelbarrow - ready for work.
This is the magnificent view down from the cuploa (dome) into the main part of the basilica. Fabulous!
This is the closest that I got to the dome and it's frescoes.
Tiny tiles form the bulk of the artwork on the dome.
Outside the dome at last! The views of the Vatican and Rome are just stunning!
Rome.
Maureen posing with St Peter's Square in the background. We had to fight pretty hard to get space at the rail.
A view down from the cupola.
St Peter's Square and the view beyond. You can almost plot your "walking tour of Rome" from here.
Part of the grounds of Vatican City. The Sistine Chapel is to the right of this shot, the Holy See to the left.
This shot includes the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and other administrative areas.
loking out over part of the Vatican City.
I believe that this building houses the Holy See, or government of Vatican City, which is, of course, a separate country in it's own right.
The gardens are nice.
Another view of Rome from the cupola.
This is M taking a breather at the halfway down point. We needed the break!
Exiting the basilica, looking towards the obelisk in the centre. You cannot walk down the steps in front due to the security arrangements, you walk to the right.
Looking back at St Peters one more time.
If you walk up the street from the square, you come to the Tiber River. It's not in the best of health, by the look of it.
A view from the Tiber.
This is just one example of how they park in Rome - double and triple parking is common. I wonder what happens if the bloke in the middle wants to get out?
Smart Cars are the go in Rome and Paris. They park around corners here. It's legal, apparently.............
On a wet day in Rome, all you can see is umbrellas.
And more umbrellas. We got soaked, gave up and went back to the hotel.
The Trevi Fountain - on a rainy day - but there's still lots of people..........
The Spanish Steps on a fine day.
This is the crowd at the Trevi Fountain - on a fine day. The people sitting on the edge of the fountain are chucking in their coins (over the shoulder), so they are not there too long.
Our first view of the Roman Forum and it contained two feral cats. This one was having a zuzzz - quite oblivious to the passing multitudes.
Catscape - it's two thousand years old - the site, not the cat!
This was the udder puddy tat, hunting, I think.
The Roman Forum is a fascinating place. It was the hub of roman society and government and it is amazing that some of it still exists.
More Roman Forum.
Yep, some more.
The Forum gets a hammering from my camera.
How did they get those big bits of rock up there without a crane? Strong slaves!
Uh huh, more Forum.
This shot is fascinating, it shows the water pipes and sewers of ancient Rome. They probably had the water intake upstream and the sewer outlet down stream or ..........
The excavation of the Roman Forum is a work in progress.
Fancy an afternoon out at the Colliseum? Thousands did when we were there.
You used to be able to walk under this magnificent victory arch, but not any more.
I had to sneak up on M to get this shot. She's just doing some people watching - there's plenty of subject matter!
Colliseum from the "other side".
If I knew roman numerals, I'd be able to tell you what it means. Sorry, you will have to Google it.
