Our Rome Adventure: Musei Vaticani

Vatican State: The Vatican Museums

“The Vatican City is a shrine to the power and extravagance of the Catholic Church through the ages, and to its extraordinary artistic taste” –Insights Roman City Guide

History :: The Vatican State covers a little more than 100 acres and is the world’s smallest independent state. There is a population of 800, of which on 30 are women. The Vatican has its own stamps, currency, police forces, and media. Although located in Rome, it is really a city all in its self surrounded by medieval walls. It is the smallest city province in the world, and also the richest. 

Our Experience :: We took the bus again, this time going the correct way =) and when we got there we had some time to kill, so we decided to stop at a little restaurant for drinks. I order water, Jake a beer, Lexi an apple juice, and Laney had some "mommy's milk" as Lexi calls it. As we are sitting here, drinking our drinks, and eating a snacks, Lexi takes her apple juice and dumps it into Jake beer! He has Alanea in his hands, so he was completely helpless to stop her! She looks at him so innocently and says  "There Daddy". I die laughing And tell him I hope he enjoys the taste of it, cause he was drinking that 8 euros beer! So, after Jake finishes his 10 euros (+ 2 after the apple juice) apple beer, we head into the city! It was unlike anything I could of ever dreamed of! Beautiful! Lexi loved looking at all the pictures. We were just speechless through most of it, and we hadn't even entered the Sistine Chapel! 

This is how Lexi decides to eat outside one of the Holiest cities in the world.... Yup

A gate, that no one was allowed to use. There is only one entrance for tourist.

Pieta, meaning Pity. A work of art by Michelangelo depicting Mary holding the body of Christ after being taken off the Cross. This is the only work of art that Michelangelo ever signed. 

A tapestry depicting The Last Supper 

Adam And Eve In The Garden Of Eden : By Wenzel Peter 

A bust of the goddess Athena 

Laocoon Cabinet : a Trojan priest, Laocoon and his two sons were killed by serpents sent from the Sea by the goddess Athena and the god Poseidon. 

The Lady Of The Vatican One of only six painted shrouds of highest artistic quality. It was used to cover the dead, and was found in Egypt in a city founded in 130 BC

Jake and the statue of Anubis.

The Sistine Chapel:

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the Chapel, however, I did snap two really quick ones.

The Corridor leading up to the Sistine Chapel 

Creation of Adam By Michelangelo 

Oridinal Sin and the Expulsion From Paradise. By Michelangelo 

Our Rome Adventure: Palatine Hill

Palatine Hill: The Center of the Seven Hills

History :: According to Roman mythology, this was where the cave that the she-wolf kept Romulus and Remus alive was located. It is the center most of the seven Roman hills, and was where many emperors lived, including Augustus, who was born here, Marcus Antonius, Tiberius, Caligula, and Domitian. Many of the ruins left today are from Domitian's Palace. The Hills looks down on the Roman Forum, where Julius Caesar is buried. 

Our Experience :: Unfortunately our experience here wasn't a very good one. Lexi was very hot by the time we were done with the Colosseum, and threw a huge fit while we were trying to see Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. We were able to snap a few shots, however, this is one we'll have to revisit next time. 

This was a game board. Gambling was only allowed in the Colosseum on event nights, all other games were supposed to be for fun only. 

The Palatine Hill Stadium. This was part of the Domitian palace, and it isn't clear rather the stadium was public, or for personal uses. 

This is what all the flooring looked like in Ancient Rome. Beautiful colorful marble

When looking at the ruins of today, you get the wrong impression. Ancient Rome was very colorful and bright. Even buildings as big as the Colosseum was decorated and colorful.

A statue a Emperor  Nero 

The Colosseum from Palatine Hill

The Arch Of Tidus