Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Come to Rome, Darling - Part Two - The Vatican

View from Vatican window



Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are enjoying the sweet, simple 
pleasures of Autumn, which is passing ever so quickly on its steady 
march through time. 
Fall is my favorite season, and I am happily soaking in 
the beautiful colors and golden light at every opportunity. 

But my heart is still in Italy, and as I recall sweet memories, 
I invite you to come along and do some armchair traveling 
as we continue on our tour of Rome. 


Today, we will visit  The Vatican

I could not possibly take a photo of the whole of it, but if 
you click on the link, you can read the history and 
see some excellent, wide-angle views of the exterior. 

I will simply give you my personal impressions......



The Vatican - oh my goodness - it was overwhelming, 
with hundreds, maybe thousands of sculptures
carved from marble; from 'simple' heads or busts, to 
extremely large sculptures, so intricate and detailed 
that you are inclined to believe they were once living,
 breathing beings now entombed in stone. 


Son, Dustin and wife Jen viewing 'the hall of heads' as we called it.


This one looks remarkably like my Father. 

xoxo





Notice the 'big toe'



 There were fantastical figures, creatures and Angels of all kinds. 





Some were rather graphic......

The Roman Conqueror in action,
depicted through one of the highest forms of art.

The juxtaposition of sublime and savage. 
The history of our world. 









I loved this painting, which was floor to ceiling
and so luminous as to appear to be real.


There were paintings and tapestries and domed ceilings
with long hallways .......









Large windows - many open to let in welcome breezes - 
look out over courtyards and city scenes 
of tiled roofs, cypress trees and distant domes.










Marble stairways carried us up and down to amazing
sights of mosaic floors, giant urns, and larger than life 
marble sculptures in chamber after chamber. 


Finally, we arrived at St. Peter's Basilica - 'The Holy Vatican Church'. 







An amazing and enormous space, so filled with beauty
that you are left standing in awe, looking towards 
the heavens and imagining you might well be there. 

Where the Pope presides



xoxo

We entered The Sistine Chapel under heavy guard
and shouts of "No Photos!" in Italian from very 
imposing guards as we were ushered forward in a large surge
of people - so many people - as we gazed awe-struck 
at Michael Angelo's paintings on the walls and ceilings,
 as the Angels hover overhead to encourage man-kind
to look ever upward towards a higher purpose and God. 

There were looks of profound intensity from all that passed through. 

The story that is told in the beauty of the paintings, in the 
history of the architecture, and the attempt of man-kind to replicate
the heavens, is worth every precious second of experiencing it in person. 



Michael Angelo's beautiful and moving,  'Pieta'.


St. Peter's Square, where the Pope sometimes speaks. 


Private living quarters.


St. Peter's Basilica 



Statues of The Saints line the colonnade. 





 We lingered in the cool shade of the colonnade.
This gives perspective of how grand everything is.  


Finally, with the changing of the guards, 
we force ourselves to walk away, turning back to gaze upon 
our amazing experience within the halls of the Eternal Quest. 

The balcony where the Pope sometimes stands. 


xoxo

Thank you for joining me, Dear Friends! 
Next time we will explore The Colosseum on our 
final day in Rome. 

xoxo

I am sending prayers this week to the Patron Saint of Storms,
 Saint Medardus, to protect all those in the path of nature's fury
and to especially watch over the very old, the very young, 
and the innocent creatures who have only Mercy to call upon. 

xoxo

16 comments:

  1. Hi Karen!What great time you had in Italy!Wonderful pictures!Thanks for this stunning tour!Hugs,my sweet friend!

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  2. oh karen...this is italy, you represented italy in such a beautiful way!! the architecture, the paintings, tapestries, the statues...all so beautiful. i have never been to italy, it looks like a great vacation destination!!

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  3. Dear Karen ~ Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip to Rome. They brought back memories of our 6 (I think) days spent there in the spring of 1973.

    Happy Fall ~ FlowerLady

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  4. Wow!! Thank you so much for sharing all of this! It reminds me of my trip long ago to Paris and Loire Valley to see the famous chateaus. So beautiful!

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  5. Karen, what a remarkable trip. It is all so beautiful and must be even more so in person. I'm glad you got to see it all..Happy Thursday..Judy and thanks for your visit..

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  6. Absolutely stunning photos!! Beautiful!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  7. I'm really enjoying your Italian posts and all the beautiful photos, it's a place I'd love to visit. Look at those wonderful mosaic floors and ceilings! Fantastic. x

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  8. Oh the beauty, Karen! I so enjoyed touring along with you through your words and photos. I am so happy that you and your hubby were able to take this memorable trip.xx

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  9. Karen, I think I would feel so small in such a grand setting. Did you feel that way? Joining you in praying..

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  10. Great! Seeing your photos, I was impressed by the continuity of the splendid history.
    Thanks for your comment on my post. Have a nice week.

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  11. Oh my the size of the buildings are just amazing, so awesome and all the details they put in the paintings and wall hangings, thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures

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  12. I fell in love with Rome you shared in your images dear Karen!

    This lovely part of land is on top of my wish list :)

    i specially loved the view from your residence sooooooooo much!
    more blessings to you my friend!

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  13. Thank you so much for taking the time to share these wonderful photographs of your trip.
    You are going to have so many wonderful memories.
    I loved seeing the fabulous buildings, paintings, statues … well I just loved seeing everything!

    All the best Jan

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  14. Ive been enjoying reading your travels in Italy. How wonderful that you’ve all gone as a family. It must have been a fabulous holiday. B x

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  15. The Vatican is beautiful and amazing, and there really are no words to describe it. Being a Catholic myself since I was a baby, looking at these pictures meant a lot to me. I just saw a movie about one of the Popes in history, and he came out onto the balcony you have shown here. The ceilings of the Vatican are beautiful. I'm so glad you had the chance to visit here, Karen, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate seeing your wonderful photos. Thank you. They are filled with beauty and light and love.

    ~Sheri

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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