Rome – St Peter’s Square, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

By Paul Bryers

Today commenced with an 8 am (first) entry to St Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel, lead by Headcount’s English Guided Tour.

Prior to our entry, the square was relatively quiet, allowing for a profound appreciation of the Basilica’s symmetrical arched colonnades, topped with 140 judging Saints, which encircle one in the embracing arms of the Catholic Church. The design is indeed ingenious.

The Pope’s Official residence is depicted below. The window on the right, top floor, is the Pope’s bedroom and on its left is the Pope’s Office where he often greets visitors and offers them tea or coffee and perhaps a chocolate biscuit, if you’re lucky.

The Vatican Museums comprise a collection of intricately designed rooms, depicting biblical stories painted by 15th and 16th Century artists such as Angelo and Raphael.

The stunning architecture is breathtaking, particularly the way light filters through the stained glass.

The museums feature numerous remarkable paintings, tapestries, and sculptures.

The Sistine Chapel is, of course, a highlight. Here is depicted an outside wall of this huge Chapel where Popes are chosen behind closed doors. The second photo shows where the temporary chimney is erected during Papal Elections – just below the black lightning rod.

Please note that none of the photos from within the Chapel are mine, as photography is forbidden. Notwithstanding this prohibition, some visitors take photos and all commit the cardinal sin of talking in unhushed voices.

Michelangelo’s ceiling is a masterpiece of divine creativity, with his depiction of the Creation of Adam perfect. There is something mesmerizing about His portrayal of God reaching out to touch Adam’s hand, humanity not quite being touched by divinity. But it is, is it not? Is there a Big Bang between those fingers? Who knows?

My Scottish Bit: The Book of Kells was mentioned during the tour. Although this beautiful tome was written prior to the existence of the Catholic Church as we know it today, it is a distinctly Catholic book, likely written in Portmahomack, Northeast of Inverness, Scotland, and now housed in Trinity College, Dublin.