Vatican City

The Vatican City wall:

St. Peter's Basilica

Oh, Holy Light:

Lindsay, illuminated.

It's HUGE:

A cathedral just isn't a cathedral without some frightening cherubs, am I right?

The close-up details of the ceiling (lots of stairs later...). From far away it looks painted, but it's actually really intricate tiling - incredible!

Lots more stairs later and we were up at the top of the Vatican, with the view below - the view, and a refreshment pit-stop. I kid you not, there is a small restaurant on the roof of the Vatican.

The plaza:

The Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel:

The Sistine Chapel is actually inside the Vatican Museum (something that, admittedly, took us some time to figure out after lots of mumbled "But...where IS the Sistine Chapel??"). No photos are allowed in the Sistine Chapel itself but it's seriously amazing. I did get some photos of the details found within various rooms of the museum, beautiful in and of itself.

Ceiling detail (I loved the bright blue); wall detail; stained glass.

Overall, I'd say the best way to describe the Vatican would be "decadent", "extravagant" or even, "a work of art"; but "holy"...not really. At least not for me. But it doesn't make it any less awe-inspiring; beyond the grandeur of the buildings and art it's really incredible to think of the scope, power, and wealth the Catholic Church has had for centuries upon centuries. So much so that the Vatican City is its own country. Learning about the religion and faith of different people, past and present, is completely fascinating.