Vatican City. The Papal See. The holiest of holies. Popeton. Catholingus. It goes by many names. Despite being the holiest place in Latin Christendom, it was a pretty cool place to visit.
The dome of St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is somewhat ubiquitous in the skyline of Rome. It can be seen from most big, open areas (NOTHING can be seen from the Medieval alleys around the Campo di Fiori - see last blog entry). Think of it like a bigger, older, taller (but still hulking over a corrupt organization) version of the Capitol Dome in Washington.
The dome is not the only cool part of the Vatican. No. The Piazza San Pietro, or St. Peter's Square (it's not square) was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Although I prefer his Ecstasy of St. Teresa (Grrrrr!!! - see 2nd to last blog entry), this is almost as good. The rim (heh heh) of the colonnade features statues of Bernini's 140 favorite saints. I would hate to be his 141st favorite saint. Jeesh.
This is the facade of St. Peter's Basilica. No, it is not a cathedral. Don't make that mistake! A cathedral is the seat of a bishop. No bishop = no cathedral. True, the Pope is the Bishop of Rome, but his bishopric is seated at the Cathedral of St. John in Lateran, which is on the south side (Souf SayEEED!) of Rome. St. Peter's is "just" a basilica (a name denoting its ground plan). BTW, Bernini also designed the facade.
I really like St. Peter's Basilica. It is among the largest buildings in the world. It was the church with the largest in amount of interior space until the 20th century (Stupid megachurches! Do they have to ruin EVERYTHING?!?).
Michelangelo's Pieta. I love this thing. I can't believe that some douchebag tried to smash it. Of all the things in the Vatican, this would be among the LAST things I would want to smash. Other "last things" I would want to smash would include The Laocoön Group and the Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel wall featuring the self portrait of Michelangelo's empty skin. Of things that would be among the FIRST things I would want to smash: The Papacy and the College of Cardinals. BTW, Michelangelo designed the dome.
Is that the light of God shining down on the righteous? No, dumbass, that's just regular light. Michelangelo was smart enough to fool lots of people with that one. Sure, it's beautiful. Certainly, it is a monument of human achievement, but see the key word there? HUMAN achievement. Humans did this. Claiming divine inspiration is just an insult to their talent. Cut it out!
More awesomeness. Next, Aaron and I would head toward to the dome. See that tiny black rim (heh heh) beneath the lights in the dome? Well, I'm gonna go walk up there. See the gold line with (barely legible at this resolution) writing? Well, those letters are 6 feet tall. I'm headed up there!
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