Vatican

Santa Maria Maggiore

Originally built in the 5th Century, Santa Maria Maggiore has the opulence which is characteristic of the four major Vatican Basilicas of Rome.

Vatican Museums

We continued our tour of Vatican Museums in the Renaissance Wing.

Palazzo Apostolico

Vatican Museums is full of art and we began with sculpture.

Cupola di San Pietro

From the roof of St Peter's Basilica, the view is panoramic.

Basilica di San Pietro

St. Peter's Basilica is the greatest Church in Christendom.

Piazza San Pietro

We visited St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

San Paolo Fuori le Mura

St Paul's Outside The Walls was rebuilt in the 19th Century, is lovely if somewhat sterile, contains mosaic portraits of all 266 Popes and translucent Alabaster windows.

Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo was originally built as a Mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, was alternately used as a Fortress and Prison.

San Giovanni in Laterano

Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran is the Cathedral of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome, and as such, ranks even higher than St. Peter's Basilica.