When in Rome...

Today we enjoyed a "free day" in Rome.  We wish it meant that everything was free all day in Rome (suggested by Ben), but unfortunately it only meant that we were free to decide for ourselves where to go and what to see.  In the morning, we all took the subway (metrebus) to the Vatican City, east across the river from the historical center of Rome.  The Vatican, and particularly St. Peter's Basilica, is so impressive from the outside.  The current structure was built in the 1500s and 1600s (took about 150 years to build!) but the same spot has been home to the church since the Emperor Constantine first built it in the 4th century A.D.  It's called St. Peter's (San Pietro) because the basilica was built on the spot where Peter, the first pope and Jesus' disciple, was supposedly buried.  After taking tons of pictures from the piazza, we went inside and explored the main part as well as the catacombs, where scores of popes are buried.  The inside of the church is fantastic and very ornately decorated.  We all tried to take pictures, but I doubt they do it justice.

Jean in Piazza San Pietro in the Vatican City

After exploring the interior, Liz, Ben, Gibb, and I climbed the 551 steps to the top of the dome of St. Peter's (designed by Michaelangelo).  The climb was pretty intense--not only was it a ton of stairs, but the staircases were so narrow and windy that I felt dizzy.  It was worth it, though, because the view of Rome from the top was beautiful.  We also got to see the mosaics inside the top of the dome up close.  They were impressive from for away, but up close they were even more incredible.

The view of the piazza from the dome of St. Peter's

In the afternoon, most everyone went to the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) and Vatican Museums.  I decided not to because I wanted to walk to the Castel Sant'Angelo (a castle/fortress where the pope used to hide out in times of war) and across the Ponte Sant'Angelo (a gorgeous pedestrian bridge over the Tiber River that's decorated with statues of angels).  Liz and Ben also decided not to visit the museums and they headed to the zoo!  I heard that the Sistine Chapel was great and that Allison took some great photos, so I'll try to post one or two of her pictures tomorrow.  A bunch of the group also went back to the Colosseum this afternoon to tour the inside, so I'll try to get pictures of that, too.

Tomorrow we are off to see a few more gardens!

Arrivederci!