Famille en Suisse: April 2012

Vatican and the Vatican Museums

Our first day in Rome, we went to the Vatican and the museums. Our apartment was just about 5 blocks away, so it was an easy first day!

These are the very thick and protective walls of Vatican City

Jordan had just studied this in her Art History class and was able to tell us all about it! There are 4 walls with different scenes: Philosophy, Theology, Poetry and Law. These frescoes are 500 years old and painted by Rafael.

Rodin's thinking guy. I think there is a larger one, but this is actually his work!

Gorgeous day!!!

Here are Kai and Shawn reenacting the Adam and God scene from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Huge 500 year or so old tapestry of Leonardo DiVinci's Last Supper

This was Soren and Kai's favorite painting of the Garden of Eden.

St. Peter's Basilica

After the Vatican, we got a couple of Margarita Pizzas for lunch at an outdoor cafe and soaked up the beautiful sunshine! Then, we walked over to St. Peter's Basilica. As we entered the basilica, the clouds blew in and a small storm too!

Swiss Guard protecting the Vatican City

St. Peter's Toe

Michelangelo's

"Pietà"

This photo gives you a feeling of just how large and spacious the basilica really is!

Soaking wet! It poured rain while we were walking home, but we still got our gelato!!!

Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini

www.palazzovalentini.it

LOVED this tour! I bought tickets in advance not really knowing what I was getting into...oh my gosh, this was a highlight of our trip! They have excavated Roman ruins UNDER the Palazzo Valantini and found beautiful homes with mosaic floors, plates, etc. The entire tour is on a glass floor so you can really see everything. Then, they added a high tech lighting system with videos, maps, etc. The best thing is they only allow about 10 people per tour so you can really enjoy the experience.

The sky was so blue! The weather, perfect!

Circus

This is where they used to have chariot races!

Gelato

Time for our daily gelato! Our favorite gelateria was "Blue Ice".

Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele

Photo credit: Sage!

Pantheon

Rafeal is buried here

We had pizza on the steps of the fountain in front of the Pantheon. It is so beautiful at night!

Museo Capitolini

We thoroughly enjoyed this museum. Not only did we see some amazing pieces of art, they had a special exhibition "LUX in Arcana".
"For the first and possibly only time in history, one hundred original and priceless documents selected among the treasures preserved and cherished by the Vatican Secret Archives for centuries leave the Vatican City walls. And they will do so in order to be housed and displayed in the beautiful halls of the Capitoline Museums in Rome" (http://www.luxinarcana.org/).
There were documents from Abe Lincoln, Henry the 8th's request for a divorce, the court proceedings of the Knights Templar, a note from Marie Antoinette, etc. There were documents from every major leader in the world over the past 1000 years! Incredible!


"ROME is number one!"

The "She Wolf" who mothered Remus and Romulus (who "Rome" is named after).


LOVE these 1000 year old Roman floors!!!

View from the rooftop patio

Venus

Dinner in Trastevere

Sunday Walk in Rome

Piazza Popolo

Piazza di Spagna

Trevi Fountain

Kai is taking his "wish" very seriously!!!

Lunch on the steps!!!

Piazza Novona

Notice the annoying street vendors just waiting to pounce on us!!!

Colesseum

Davis getting whistled at by a local Italiano!!!

Arc of Constantine

Colosseum from Palantine Hill

Palantine Hill

This was our last full day in Rome and it was wonderful! We needed a little respite from all the hustle and bustle of people at the famous sites. We had a pic-nic and the kids, Kai, in particular, could run around freely! Palantine Hill was peaceful, beautiful and Spring was in the air!