Hooked on a ceiling

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the great works of Michelangelo and a true sight to behold.  If only it wasn’t at the Vatican.

Tour time

We did another tour with the Roman Guy so that we could get early access to the Sistine Chapel.  It was an early tour, so we decided to pick up breakfast at a café near the Vatican gate.  Quick note to future visitors to the Sistine chapel: Don’t do this if you want to save money.  Two muffins and coffee cost 15€.

After consuming our gold-plated muffins, we met our tour guide Jad who hooked us up with radios to hear him as we zoomed through the halls of the Vatican museum.  As we waited in line outside the gates Jad gave us a much-needed lesson on the history and details of the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.

Sistine Chapel Facts

1. 25,000 people a day visit the chapel.
2. Before Michelangelo got to it, the ceiling was a simple depiction of the night sky. A field of dark blue and simple stars.
3. Michelangelo did not paint on his back, rather standing to achieve the result.
4. You can’t take pictures or video inside the chapel.
5. The Catholic Church has had a history of trying to cover up naked people in art and the Sistine Chapel was not immune.  In his image but put some clothes on!!!

Into the maze

Entry into the chapel in the early session involves briskly moving through a couple of the Vatican museums corridors with the goal of making it before too many other tour groups enter.  Jad did not let us down and we made it in and looked up.

The chapel is simply breathtaking, and photos really don’t do it justice.  There are a few places to sit along the sides but those are usually taken.  The tours are limited to approximately 20 minutes inside so its best to start at one end and move to the other.  There’s also no talking inside which is why Jad gave us our history lesson outside.

Skip the rest

After the Chapel the tour takes you through the Vatican museum which is nice but the collections are chaotic and not terribly interesting.  There is one Papal apartment that has more Michelangelo frescoes but we all wished we skipped the rest of the tour.  If you’re Catholic or have the need for completeness you may think otherwise.  Personally, I found it too crowded for enjoyment and kept looking for the next exit.

We found Pizza over in Travestere much more compelling and I was now ready to evangelize on how the pizza dough had risen.

All this for a fountain?

The problem with Rome is that people have been told the 5 spots they need to go and everyone congregates there.  After taking an afternoon rest we decided to see the Trevi fountain in the evening.  The crowd around the Nicola Salvi designed fountain was immense, pushy, but ultimately in good spirits.  We pushed our way down to the front and tossed our obligatory coins in as a signal of coming back.  I believe it to be a half-hearted gesture as none of us are too thrilled with Rome.