Vatican City

Rode the Rome subway this morning, bustling-busy with people heading to work on a Friday - and we were heading for another country! We were thrilled to be so near as we walked the six blocks from our Metra stop to the Vatican.




In this gorgeous setting, we discovered that history, culture, religion, and art were indescribably merged. In fact, we're sure no words can really describe the Sistine Chapel (with its Michaelangelo ceiling), or St. Peter's Basilica (the largest and grandest church on earth), the exquisite Pieta by Michaelangelo, St. Peter's crypt, or Bernini's altar (seven stories high). We looked in awe and appreciated with wonder.

And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, the bells tolled at noon, a soprano began a sweet chant, and a procession of clergy in white robes with red hats marched in front of us to Bernini's Dove Window & Peter's Throne altar to begin daily mass. We were hushed into an even deeper acknowledgement of the overwhelming power of art through music and tradition.

~written by Nancy and Diana 11.13.09~