St. Peter’s Basilica, The Cupola and The Beggars Series
06.10.2010
I split up seeing the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica into separate days due to the crowds. I got to the St. Peter’s Square a little bit after 8:30a and got in line for the security check. It went pretty fast and I headed to the Cupola. I didn’t do this the last time I was in Rome, so it was also on my must-do list while in town.
It was 5€ if you walked all 500+ steps or 7€ to take an elevator up 300+ steps but still have to walk the remaining 200+ steps, so I decided to walk the whole thing. It goes up to one of the domes in the basilica, and you get a pretty good view of the inside the basilica. From there, it’s another 200+ steps to outside of the Cupola. The view from there was AMAZING! You can see all around Rome with a 360° view. I stayed up there for a bit taking pictures and just soaking it all in.
I took the stairs back down and ended up inside St. Peter’s Basilica. I wandered around, took some pictures and found the chapel set aside for prayer. I stepped in for some quiet prayer time, which was very nice. Not all of the churches provide a dedicated quiet space for prayer, so when there is such space, I always take advantage of it. Otherwise, you are battling with tourists chatting while you are trying to focus on prayer. This extrovert doesn’t do well in those settings. J
While I was walking around I saw several Cardinals (I’m guessing that’s what they were….) in their black Cossacks and beanies walking through the basilica. That was pretty cool. I also saw lots of priests and couldn’t figure out why. It seemed like there were groups of them all over the place. I finally realized they were there because it was the end of the “Year of the Priest” celebration. When I left the basilica to go to the Camino l’Europe exhibit, it looked like they were setting up for something in the piazza. I had to walk all the way around the piazza to get to where the exhibit was because they had closed off all of the exits. I got all the way over there before I found out it was closed today too because of the event happening later in the afternoon. Darn it! I was starting to wonder if I would ever get to see this exhibit. It made me all the more determined to see it, though.
I found a lovely spot to sit and people watch, just by the entrance to St. Peter’s Square. I became fascinated with this Gypsy woman who was begging rather aggressively (she would fit in Portland perfectly) and the reactions of the people she was asking money from. I pulled out my camera, put it on the black & white setting and started snapping pictures. She was so enthralled with asking people for money, I don’t even think she saw me. I can’t wait to see what the pictures look like when I get them on my computer. I’ve decided to start shooting a series of beggar photos when I can be discreet enough to do it. This should not be a problem in Rome as they are at every church entrance.
I walked back towards the bus stop and decided to explore a bit of the area around the Vatican more, hoping to find a grocery store, but settling on a gelateria and some gelato. Yes, I am easy to please.
I finally went back to the hostel and settled in for the evening.
I split up seeing the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica into separate days due to the crowds. I got to the St. Peter’s Square a little bit after 8:30a and got in line for the security check. It went pretty fast and I headed to the Cupola. I didn’t do this the last time I was in Rome, so it was also on my must-do list while in town.
It was 5€ if you walked all 500+ steps or 7€ to take an elevator up 300+ steps but still have to walk the remaining 200+ steps, so I decided to walk the whole thing. It goes up to one of the domes in the basilica, and you get a pretty good view of the inside the basilica. From there, it’s another 200+ steps to outside of the Cupola. The view from there was AMAZING! You can see all around Rome with a 360° view. I stayed up there for a bit taking pictures and just soaking it all in.
I took the stairs back down and ended up inside St. Peter’s Basilica. I wandered around, took some pictures and found the chapel set aside for prayer. I stepped in for some quiet prayer time, which was very nice. Not all of the churches provide a dedicated quiet space for prayer, so when there is such space, I always take advantage of it. Otherwise, you are battling with tourists chatting while you are trying to focus on prayer. This extrovert doesn’t do well in those settings. J
While I was walking around I saw several Cardinals (I’m guessing that’s what they were….) in their black Cossacks and beanies walking through the basilica. That was pretty cool. I also saw lots of priests and couldn’t figure out why. It seemed like there were groups of them all over the place. I finally realized they were there because it was the end of the “Year of the Priest” celebration. When I left the basilica to go to the Camino l’Europe exhibit, it looked like they were setting up for something in the piazza. I had to walk all the way around the piazza to get to where the exhibit was because they had closed off all of the exits. I got all the way over there before I found out it was closed today too because of the event happening later in the afternoon. Darn it! I was starting to wonder if I would ever get to see this exhibit. It made me all the more determined to see it, though.
I found a lovely spot to sit and people watch, just by the entrance to St. Peter’s Square. I became fascinated with this Gypsy woman who was begging rather aggressively (she would fit in Portland perfectly) and the reactions of the people she was asking money from. I pulled out my camera, put it on the black & white setting and started snapping pictures. She was so enthralled with asking people for money, I don’t even think she saw me. I can’t wait to see what the pictures look like when I get them on my computer. I’ve decided to start shooting a series of beggar photos when I can be discreet enough to do it. This should not be a problem in Rome as they are at every church entrance.
I walked back towards the bus stop and decided to explore a bit of the area around the Vatican more, hoping to find a grocery store, but settling on a gelateria and some gelato. Yes, I am easy to please.
I finally went back to the hostel and settled in for the evening.