St Peter's and the Pantheon

Friday 4th November

Cloudy but 19C forecast and only 10% chance of rain, so we left the coats in the hotel. As we came out of the station and headed for the Vatican the rain started. "Won't be much" says Bruce, but it was. We put on our ponchos but our legs and shoes  were quite wet by the time we reached St Peters Square. Thankfully, because we were very early, the queue was small and we were through security in about 15mins. The Basilica is awesome, there is no other word for it. The largest church in the world full of art, statues, gold and many treasures but the best there thing by far, for us, was the Pieta by Michelangelo. It is absolutely beautiful and seeing it was very moving. To see it was the reason we had gone to St Peter's and we were able to view the statue without crowds and for as much time as we wanted. How a man 24 years old could create such sensitive, emotional sculpture out of a block of marble is a true wonder, what a gift! When we left the Basilica after about an hour and a half the queue to get in was more than half way around the Square and the rain was starting to come down in earnest - I reckon the poor folk would be under their umbrellas for at least an hour. ( It was amazing that the vendors who continually confront you as you walk down the street were now clutching handfuls of colourful umbrellas whereas yesterday it had been selfie sticks). As it was also quite cold we decided to miss the 2 hour wait to get into the Vatican Museums and head back to the hotel to dry out and change clothes. We might try for the museums tomorrow.

Refreshed and changed, and the rain had also stopped, we headed out for yet another late lunch and then completed the Heart of Rome walk from Rick Steve's book - we had done the Spanish Steps to the Trevi fountain section previously. Highlights were the Pantheon, several squares with fountains and statues, and the amazing 'Italianate' colourful buildings. The Pantheon surprised us because from the front, with its columns and triangular roof, it is very much like a Greek or Roman Temple, which it had been, but inside, it is now very much a Roman Catholic Basilica. The massive ancient dome forms a circle (ocular) at the top which is open and when it rains the floor in the middle of the building gets wet. It was designed so that the water would then flow to a central drain. As we were returning to our favourite 'That's Amore' restaurant for dinner, we passed through the square in front of the Pantheon, a busker was singing and had drawn quite a large crowd, so we stopped to listen. His operatic baritone voice was magnificent - I am suspect some ladies leaning out of the windows of a nearby hotel were sure he was singing to them. After one song I reckon about 30 Euro were put in his tin - he could be quite well off after a nights work - I wish I had brought the ukulele. Our favourite hostess greeted us warmly "Hello Bruce, how was your day", and after another lovely meal we staggered up the hill - cobblestones are quite difficult to walk on, especially when wet, and had a quiet evening in. Merilyn is feeling very tired. She has had hypos three or four nights in a row, which takes a lot out of her, and has decided to have tomorrow morning in bed.

Trevi Fountain

Inside the Pantheon

Outside the Pantheon