Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Photo Walk - St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Like many of the Italian churches, the cupola dominates the skyline. 



The portico





The Nave

St. Teresa



Monument to Christina, Queen of Sweden

Leo XII

St. John de la Salle


Michelangelo's Pieta



The Chapel of St. Sebastian with a marker for Pope John Paul II

The Papal Altar




St. Peter's Throne


Monument to Alexander VII

Monument to Pius VIII

Monument to Innocent XI

Altar of the Transfiguration

The Holy Water Font Cherubs - our guide called it the cutest statue at the Vatican

Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostles



Friday, January 24, 2014

Photo Walk - The Vatican Museum

Chiaramonti Museum - a collection of Roman busts


I was especially fascinated by the ceilings, which were works of art by themselves

Hall of the Muses


The Round Hall


Gallery of the Candelabra


The Tapestry Room - The ceiling is not carved, but painted


The Gallery of Maps
Apoxyomenos


Octagonal Courtyard - Hermes Ingenui


Octagonal Courtyard - Apollo Belvedere


Octagonal Courtyard - Lacoon Group

The Room of the Muses - the center statue is Apollo Cithadroedus

The Belvedere Torso - Michelangelo was so fascinated by this sculpture that he used the body contours for Jesus on the wall of the Sistine Chapel

Hall of the Muses

Round Hall

Round Hall - Hera  - Hercules - Cerses

Round Hall

Round Hall - Juno Sospita

Round Hall

Round Hall - Juno Sospita
Greek Cross Hall

The Sarcophagus of Constantine - The Greek Hall also contains Constantine's wife's sarcophagus


The Gallery of Maps - my favorite room

The Gallery of Maps

The Gallery of Maps - Italy

The Gallery of Maps - Italy

The Gallery of Maps - Venice
Sobieski Room

The Hall of the Immaculate Conception

The Hall of the Immaculate Conception

The Hall of the Immaculate Conception
Detail of the base of the sarcophagus
Gallery of the Candelabra - Artemis of Ephesus


The Gallery of Tapestries
The Gallery of Tapestries
The Gallery of Tapestries - as you walk by this Tapestry, Jesus seems to always be facing you