The tiny, independent, state of Vatican City has its own radio station, postal service, armed guards and its head of state is, of course, the Pope.  Headquarters for Catholicism, it is also home to the most magnificent church on earth--St. Peter's Basilica--and one of the most magnificent museums--the Vatican Museum.

The facade of the absolutely enormous St. Peter's Basilica.

A view of St. Peter's Square from atop the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.  The dome was designed by none other than Michelangelo--yet another masterpiece for this most extraordinary man.  The square itself, and its columned colonnade, were designed by another Renaissance genius, Bernini.  None other than Sister Maureen Willis questioned, however, "if its is called St. Peter's Square, why is it round?"  Another one of life's unexplained mysteries.

Here some nuns check out HQ, with the smartly, and brightly, dressed Swiss guards standing watch.

This is the time-honored uniform of the Swiss Mercenary Gurards which stand sentry at the Vatican.  Fetching, ain't they?

Here we are atop St. Peter's dome, enjoying the cool breezes and amazing views over Vatican City and downtown Rome.

Michelangelo's Pieta, showing Mary cradling her lifeless son after he has been dragged down from the cross.  Completed when he was only 24 years old, it now sits behind bullet proof glass--many years ago on Christmas morning, a madman started hacking at it with a hammer. 

Bernini's stunning alter sits almost as high as a 7 story building in the center of St. Peter's, and is made of bronze.  Used for only special occasions, and typically only by the Pope himself.

We attended Sunday Mass at St. Peter's and we saw none other than......well, in spite of the funny hat, it wasn't the Pope (who was out of town resting and holidaying after a long hot summer).  We think it may have been Cardinal Bernadini from New York, who (if our memories serve us correctly) may have been the first American chosen to be a cardinal (essentially, the rough equivalent of the Pope's cabinet, and the body that elects a new pope from their ranks upon the Pope's death).  The mass was beautiful, as the church was brightly lit and much of the mass sung.

The Vatican Museum houses a striking, and enormous (we stayed there 6 hours!), collection of art.  Most heralded are the Raphael Rooms (by Raphael) and, of course, the Sistine Chapel done by none other than Michalangelo.  This fresco (a fresco is a painting executed in wet plaster--the painting literally becomes part of the wall) in one of the rooms outside the Sistine Chapel is the School of Athens, by Raphael.

The frescoes of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (where no photos were permitted) are overwhelmingly considered the greatest work of art by any one man.

With our CD self-guided tours slung around our necks, here we are, ready to keep exploring the vast Vatican Museum.

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