The Vatican: St. Peter's Square and Basilica

  Vatican City, Italy
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

We took the earliest train out of Florence to Rome and left our backpacks locked at the Rome train station (Roma Termini). Then we hopped on the metro to Vatican City.


It's weird because Vatican City is completely enveloped by the city of Rome. So there are shops and apartments and whatnot surrounding this huge tourist attraction and holy city. There are also beggars along the Vatican wall, and many souvineir stands on the opposite side of the street.

It was HOT outside! But all over Rome there are water fountains that are free to the public, and there was one right inside St. Peter's Square.


St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) was designed and built by Bernini in 1667 for the specific purpose that the greatest number of people could view the Pope giving his blessing. In the center of the Square is an Egyptian obelisk dating back to 13th century B.C. and was moved to the Square in the 1500s. It was believed that the ball on top of the obelisk contained the ashes of Julius Caesar (the ball is now elsewhere in a Rome museum). There are also two beautiful fountains located in the square, also designed and built by Bernini.



When we arrived that morning, there were masses of people congregated in the square. We had to wait in line to go through security and I yelled at a foreign lady who was trying to cut in front of everyone (it's just in my nature to regulate, I guess). We had no idea why there were so many people, aside from the fact that the Vatican is a huge tourist attraction.

Little did we know that every Wednesday morning the Pope speaks to whomever wants to attend. No wonder there were people shoulder-to-shoulder across the Square! While we didn't get very close to the Pope, and we couldn't understand what the heck he was saying (since it was in Italian), we can still boast that we saw the Pope speaking in person. He had a very calm and genteel manner about him while he was speaking. It was very cool.

St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is really very beautiful and awe-inspiring. The photos in the album don't do it justice. You honestly just have to be there in order to truly experience it. Apparently, it is the world's largest church.

We stood in line for a good while, sweltering and getting crabby because of all the jerky tourists who were cutting in and out of line (pet peeve of mine). Finally we got to the outside steps, where I was promptly told by a guard that I couldn't go in because my shoulders weren't covered.

WHAT?? Did I just stand in the heat for 45 minutes for NOTHING?? WHY on EARTH did I decide not to wear sleeves today??

Thankfully, while I was standing there dumbfounded, Shannon was digging through her daypack and found a sarong she purchased in Barcelona as a gift. We put it around my shoulders, got an approving nod from the guard, and walked in.


So Shannon, due to her quick thinking and resourcefulness, definitely saved the day.

NOTE: If you're interested, check out the stories behind the photos in the photo album (not the slide show, because the stories don't show up). I'm a research/history nerd - I can't help it. Most of the information I found on a great website: stpetersbasilica.org.

Lessons Learned:

1. WEAR SOMETHING THAT COVERS YOUR SHOULDERS TO THE VATICAN! Good grief. Also they won't let you in if you don't have your knees and stomach covered. This is out of respect for the church.

2. Bring/buy at least one bottle of water. You can keep refilling it.

3. Wear a hat or sunscreen.

4. Use inside voices. Nobody likes loud dorky tourists.

5. The Pope speaks on Wednesday mornings!