Pictures of the Vatican

My last day in Rome, I visited the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica.

(Click on an image to see a larger version. Click on the "++" link to see a huge full-size version.)

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Walking from the Metro, St. Peter's Basilica finally appears beyond the cafes, souvenir shops, and gelato trucks. Alas, in preparation for the year 2000 Jubilee, the entire edifice was under restoration. ++
Now, inside the massive piazza in front of the Basilica, we get a closer look. ++
The center of the piazza is dominated by this obilisk. It had some fascinating history, which I've forgotten.
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Approaching the entrance to St. Peters, you pass the clothing police (The guy in the dark suit with his back turned). The clothing police stood on the steps, turning back any women who dared attempt to enter St. Peters in shorts. Out in the piazza, many vendors did good business selling wrap-around skirts... ++
Atop the steps, we get another view down at the piazza. This is the view that the Pope often sees when speaking to the masses. (Although his masses are a little more crowded than mine here...) ++
And then you walk in the doors of St. Peters...
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...and stare at the ceiling... ++
...and stare at the dome... ++
...and stare at Bernini's funny black Baldacchino thing in the middle...
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...and look past the Baldacchino, down the side of the Basilica... ++
...and unto St. Peter's Chair (I think), with some pretty stained glass above. There's lots more stuff to see, but it all seems so overly gaudy, so overwhelming, that it pretty much fades into a monotony of overload. ++
Back outside, the Swiss Guard seem to enjoy their role, even if they wear those funny outfits. At least they get to carry a genuine halberd (or is it a pike?). :-)

Lucas Pereira
Back

++ Walking from the Metro, St. Peter's Basilica finally appears beyond the cafes, souvenir shops, and gelato trucks. Alas, in preparation for the year 2000 Jubilee, the entire edifice was under restoration.	++ Now, inside the massive piazza in front of the Basilica, we get a closer look.	++ The center of the piazza is dominated by this obilisk. It had some fascinating history, which I've forgotten.
++ Approaching the entrance to St. Peters, you pass the clothing police (The guy in the dark suit with his back turned). The clothing police stood on the steps, turning back any women who dared attempt to enter St. Peters in shorts. Out in the piazza, many vendors did good business selling wrap-around skirts...	++ Atop the steps, we get another view down at the piazza. This is the view that the Pope often sees when speaking to the masses. (Although his masses are a little more crowded than mine here...)	++ And then you walk in the doors of St. Peters...
++ ...and stare at the ceiling...	++ ...and stare at the dome...	++ ...and stare at Bernini's funny black Baldacchino thing in the middle...
++ ...and look past the Baldacchino, down the side of the Basilica...	++ ...and unto St. Peter's Chair (I think), with some pretty stained glass above. There's lots more stuff to see, but it all seems so overly gaudy, so overwhelming, that it pretty much fades into a monotony of overload.	++ Back outside, the Swiss Guard seem to enjoy their role, even if they wear those funny outfits. At least they get to carry a genuine halberd (or is it a pike?). :-)