Day 99. Wed 7th July.
Vatican Museum
After 2000 years of plunder and extortion the Vatican galleries are a must see art horde.
We arrive just before the gallery opens at 9am and already the 4 deep queues are round the block. This being the Vatican, we are whisked to the ticket office in no time at all and against my better judgement hand over our 30euro contribution to Vatican coffers.
It’s a daunting prospect, many of the rooms are the length of a football pitch but we make a B line for the Sistine chapel, the Pinacoteca (painting galleries) and the rooms decorated by Raphael.
Vatican Museum
After 2000 years of plunder and extortion the Vatican galleries are a must see art horde.
We arrive just before the gallery opens at 9am and already the 4 deep queues are round the block. This being the Vatican, we are whisked to the ticket office in no time at all and against my better judgement hand over our 30euro contribution to Vatican coffers.
It’s a daunting prospect, many of the rooms are the length of a football pitch but we make a B line for the Sistine chapel, the Pinacoteca (painting galleries) and the rooms decorated by Raphael.
The ceiling of the Sistine chapel by Michelangelo is epic and heartbreakingly glorious. All but ruined by some shortarse tick of a guard loudly shushing the room of stunned fellow art lovers.(what is the collective noun for a gallery full of people)?
For goodness sake, no one is there because it’s a chapel. Were here to be awestruck by the most viewed painting in the world and we have paid 15 euros for the privilege so please allow us a few gasps of astonishment and pleasure.
Directed back along the football pitch to get to the Raphael Stanze. Enveloped by the astonishingly beautiful paintings on the walls and ceilings, you feel you are inside the painting. Directed along the football pitch (and gift shop) again, now I know how a rat in a laboratory maze feels. To the Pinacoteca, full of the glorious and the gruesome, magical masterpieces that are a joy and privilege to behold.
As this was to be our last visit to Rome, lunch in our favourite restaurant, Ostella alla Concordia and get uproariously drunk, it’s too hot to remain sober. Thank goodness we were drunk, the heavens had opened, trains were cancelled and the ones running were awash with rainwater, in the carriages. Nothing for it but enjoy the drenching walk back to the Wang. The awning had collapsed with the sheer volume of water and we merrily took it all in our stride.
For goodness sake, no one is there because it’s a chapel. Were here to be awestruck by the most viewed painting in the world and we have paid 15 euros for the privilege so please allow us a few gasps of astonishment and pleasure.
Directed back along the football pitch to get to the Raphael Stanze. Enveloped by the astonishingly beautiful paintings on the walls and ceilings, you feel you are inside the painting. Directed along the football pitch (and gift shop) again, now I know how a rat in a laboratory maze feels. To the Pinacoteca, full of the glorious and the gruesome, magical masterpieces that are a joy and privilege to behold.
As this was to be our last visit to Rome, lunch in our favourite restaurant, Ostella alla Concordia and get uproariously drunk, it’s too hot to remain sober. Thank goodness we were drunk, the heavens had opened, trains were cancelled and the ones running were awash with rainwater, in the carriages. Nothing for it but enjoy the drenching walk back to the Wang. The awning had collapsed with the sheer volume of water and we merrily took it all in our stride.
Clay head by Bernini (1 m High)
WOW Raphael
The Gardens from the gallery.
did one dude do all those paintings on his own - nah can't have done!
ReplyDeleteyep - back into the baroque! (Is Raphael actually Baroque or a bit pre-baroque? And that also brings me back to the Ninja question! Wasn't he some super hero turtle being?)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, back to the baroque. Can I please request a re-instatement to the TDM art appreciation society? I agree (and particularly following the last entry) pretty damm gorgeous! Though since it was the Vatican i might have been tempted at a bit of vandalism by leavign a few condoms lying around to make a bit of a point!!