We went to visit Monaco which is the second smallest state in the world. It is just under two square kilometres and located on the Cote d’Azur, in the French Riviera and is bordered by France on three sides. There are stunning views of the MediterraneanĀ Sea and the MonacoĀ harbour as we were heading up the mountain to Monte Carlo.
View of the Monaco Harbour
Monaco is Ā located onĀ the Alpes Maritimes and overlooks Ā the Mediterranean sea. The world renown Grand Prix race is held in Monaco and runs through the streets every year.
Road in Monaco which is used for the Grand Prix race. Rubber marks on the curb are still visible from last years race cars
The James Bond Ā movie “Golden Eye” was filmed in part at the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco.
Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco
The Casino de Monte-Carlo is well-known as a high roller casino where the rich come to play. While we were outside we saw some very expensive cars parked out front of the casino.
Expensive cars parked outside of the Casino de Monte-CarloA red Ferrari parked beside the Casino de Monte-Carlo
We decided to go into the Casino de Monte-Carlo to check out the inside. We only went into the lobby area and saw the interior entrance area. It was like a movie set from the 1930’s with marble floors, Ā pillars and ornate decorations.
Lobby area of the Casino de Monte-CarloCeiling in the lobby area of the Casino de Monte-CarloCasino de Monte-Carlo main lobby area
We took a candid selfie while in the Lobby of the Casino.
After touring the casino lobby we headed back outside to walk around the city. From outside of the casino we could see the mountain tops in the distance.
View of Monte Carlo with theĀ Alpes in the background
We came across the Prince of Monaco’s Palace during our walk.
Palace in Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is a beautiful spot and is very clean and well maintained. Our guide informed us that the police are very friendly but strict and the rules are strongly enforced with fines. Ā We were to follow the rules or risk a possible fine. We noticed that people cross the street at the crossings, there is no littering and people walk on the paths in the park and not on the grass. We evenĀ saw a tourist couple get put into a police cruiser with their dog for what appears to be allowing the dog to run loose with no leash.
We walked through this beautiful cliff top park which overlooks the Sea.
Park on the cliff edge in Monte Carlo Monaco
We walked along the path looking at the statues and panoramic views of the sea.
Statue in Monte Carlo ParkStatue in Monte Carlo ParkStatue of nude women playing Ping PongView from the Park looking at the marina in Monaco.
We walked the entire pathway which ran along the cliff edge of the park admiring the views.
Ray and Shelley with the Monaco Marina in background
Eventually, the trail ended at a lookout which overlooked the sea.
Lookout at Monte Carlo Park
Monaco is a beautiful spot and the views are gorgeous. We enjoyedĀ our time there and wish we had more time to spend in Monaco.
We toured the “Papal Basilica of St. Peter” which is commonly referred to as simply Ā St. Peter’s Basilica.
The St. Peter Basilica with Michelangelo’s done n the Vatican Rome
The history of the church and why it is called St Peter is interesting. Ā Peter was one of the 12 apostles of Christ and was crucified upside down at the top of the hill called “Vaticanus” and the site of the Clementine Chapel. His remains are said to be those contained in the underground Confessio in St. Peter’s Basilica.
We entered the Basilica through the massive main doors and we were immediately exposed to the vast size of the church.
Entrance of the St. Peter Basilica in Rome
The high ceiling and ornate designs were very impressive. The high ceilings accented the vast size of the church. The ceilings were decorated with ornate gold designs and other art motifs with marble pillars throughout.
Ceiling in St Peter BasilicaCeiling section in St Peter Basilica
There were numerous statues throughout the church some of which were from the 1st century. These statues were created by many famous artists including Michelangelo. The first chapel on the right when we entered the Basilica contained the famous sculpture by Michelangelo “Pieta” which he completed before he was 25 years old.
Michelangelo’s “Pieta” sculpture
There were mosaic decorations that were very impressive including the mosaic decoration of the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian. It Ā adorns the chapel of St. Sebastian and at the base of the chapel is the tomb of Saint John Paul II.
Chapel of Saint Sebastian in St. Peter BasilicaThe tomb of Saint John Paul II
The basilica floors were marble and had different designs. One area of the floor had engraved markings identifying different churches throughout the world and theirĀ Ā size in comparison to St. Peter Basilica.
St. Peter Basilica floor with engravings of different Churches throughout the world
We went to the center of the Basilica and looked up to see the interior of the Michelangelo’s dome decorated by CalvalierĀ d’Arpino. It is breathtaking with the rays of the sun shining through.
Interior of Michelangelo’s Dome in the St Peter Basilica
We saw so many different monuments, altars and works of art that were very impressive. One monument that was amazing was situated under the MichelangeloĀ dome .
Monument under the Michelangelo dome in St Peter’s Basilica
There is an alabaster window which is quite impressive and large. It is located above the “Chair of St Peter” the window displays a dove signifying the holy spirit.
The window is very large and the dove wing span is 6 feet wide. The beauty of this window is unbelievable. The light shines through the alabaster window highlighting the dove in a stunning and brilliant manner. It is one of the most stunning pieces of art we have ever seen.
We exited the Basilica and stepped out to see and admired the St Peter Square. The size and scope of the square were amazing.
View from the front steps of the St Peter Basilica looking towards St Peter Square
We walked through the square and stopped to see two of the swiss guards who are the official guards of the Vatican since the 15th century. They are wearing their tradition dress uniform whose design is traditionally attributed to Michelangelo.
Two swiss guards protecting an entrance to the Vatican
St Peter Square is a very large area with several iconic features. The square is bordered by two colonnades. They are composed of pillars and on, top there are 140 statues of Saints.
End of the Colonnade in St Peter SquareOne of the colonnades at St Peter Square
From the far end of the square, you overlook the square with St. Peter’s Basilica and the Michelangelo dome in the distance.
View of Saint Peter Square
The square has an Egyptian obelisk from the 1st century which was erect in the centre of the square in the fifteenth century.
Egyptian obelisk of red granite, 25.5 metres tall, Ā in the centre of the St Peter Square
We had a very long day walking through the Vatican museums, The Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Saint Peter Square. It was an amazing experience for us. Below are some pictures from St Peter’s Basilica and the St Peter Square.
Ray and Shelley in the St Peter Square with the St Peter’s Basilica in the background
When we entered the hallway towards the Sistine Chapel we were informed that we could not take any pictures. The reason for this was not entirely clear, however, the guide indicated it was because of copyright infringement. So we did not get any photos inside the chapel but we used non-copyright images of the Sistine Chapel that were available for the blog.
Judgement day wall and Sistine Chapel ceiling in Vatican
The pictures cannot convey the beauty and spectacular images we saw in the chapel. The artwork by Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling was completed between 1508 and 1512 using a “frescoes” style. The process he used to paint the Sistine Chapel was extraordinary. The painting wasĀ done quickly in watercolour on the wet plaster on the ceilingĀ so that the water colours penetrate the plaster and become fixed as it dried. This is how Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel.
The Sistine Chapel paintings were restored between 1980 and 1994 by a group of experts from the Vatican Museums, coordinated by Director Carlo Pietrangeli. Ā The Ceiling frescoes were cleaned between 1980 and 1992, while the āLast Judgementā took four years of intense work, ending in 1994. The candle smoke and even previous restorations (which consisted painting over the frescos or retouching the colours to ābrightenā them, which diminished over time)
When we entered into the Chapel we were struck by the size, brilliance, and beauty of the ceiling and walls of the chapel. The ceiling is high around 20 meters above the floor. The room was crowded and everyone was not saying a word. It was very surreal as everyone looked up and stared quietly at the ceiling admiring the paintings.
Ceiling of Sistine Chapel in Vatican
The first thing that struck me was the vibrant colours and the story behind the paintings of Michelangelo. The ceiling’s nine main sections depict stories from the Book of Genesis. The creation of the world, Adam and Eve, Noah ending withĀ the altar wall that depicts the last judgement.
We looked at each section following the story of Genesis and admiring the work of Michelangelo.
God creating Adam with the touch of his fingerGod creating Eve from the rib of AdamThe great flood
The altar wall which was painted by Michelangelo between 1536 and 1541 was twenty-five years after he finished the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
What was very interesting to us was that a Cardinal “Biagio da Cesena” indicated his dislike with the paintings Ā because the paintings depicted nudes with exposed genitalia. That the paintings should not be in a place of worship. This upset Michelangelo so he painted Cesena’s face into the final judgement sceneĀ as being sent to the underworld. Cesena’s image is in the bottom right-hand corner of the painting. Cesena is depicted with donkey ears, and his nudity is covered by a coiled snake which is biting his genitals.
Cesena depicted in Judgement day at Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo
What was also very interesting was the fact that the original paintings by Michelangelo depicted everyone nude. It was two decades after it was completedĀ when the more “prominent” nudes in The Last Judgment were painted over with underwear, or “braghe” meaning draperies after Michelangelo died in 1564. The artist Daniele da Volterra painted the underwear when the Council of Trent condemned nudity in religious art.
The last judgement by Michelangelo on the altar wall of Sistine Chapel
Seeing the Sistine Chapel was truly a once in a lifetime event. The feelings and emotions of seeing such a spectacular and historic place and seeing Michelangelo’s paintings was awe-inspiring. Words cannot begin to explain the magnificence of the Chapel.
Below is a link to view the Sistine Chapel in a 3DĀ virtual tour.
We took a tour of the Vatican when we were in Rome. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. The Vatican is the smallest State in the world and its official language is Latin. The Vatican is so full of history, art, and architecture that it is almost surreal.
We arrived outside of the Vatican and could see the large 30 feet high stone wall which surrounds the entire Vatican. The walls which were built-in the 15th and 16th century to protect the Vatican are quite impressive. There was a major lineup of people waiting to get into the Vatican.
Line up to enter the Vatican30 feet high walls surrounding the Vatican City
The tour allowed us to by-pass the lineup and gain entry through a separate entrance. As we were walking to our entrance area we came across a very impressive gate in the Vatican wall made with stone and marble.
One of the gates into the VaticanOur Tour guide preparing to enter into the Vatican
Once we entered the entrance area we went through a security check. There were a lot of people at the Vatican and it was very busy.
Heading through the security before going into the Vatican
Once we were through security we began our tour at the “Cortile dellaĀ pigna” outdoor garden area. There we learned from the tour guide, what the tour would contain including The Basilica of St. Peter, The Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and finishing in the St Peter Square. Ā We will blog about each section in a separate blog entry because there is just so much to see and talk about.
The Vatican Museums
The Vatican museum is actually several museums in different buildings and they are very large. One of the first things we saw when entering the museum courtyard area was the large niche by Pirro Logori. The bronze pinecone on display was once in the Constantinian Basilica.
Bronze pinecone monument with peacock birds in outside area of the Vatican Museums
We were truly amazed when we went inside the Museum, the art and architecture were beautiful. Some of the stunning and incredible things we saw were statues from the first century. One, statue, in particular, was the “Belvedere Torso” which is a fragment of a statue made of marble. This torso was found in Rome in the 15th century and it has been in the Vatican since then.
The Belvedere Torso in the Vatican Museum from the 1st century
There were numerous statues throughout the museum some dating back centuries. It was fascinating seeing the ancient statues from as far back as the first century.
The “Laocoon” is an original Hellenistic work of the 1st century BCA Hellenistic statue, A roman work from the 1st century BC
We went to the Vatican gallery of maps and saw the stunning paintings on the ceiling and tapestries on the walls. The view was marvelous and almost took your breath away. Ā The Gallery of Maps contained paintings and tapestries. The long hall had numerous different artist over the centuries paint and do the art.
The gallery of maps LibraryImage of map in Gallery of maps
The ceiling was painted with different images and filled the entire ceiling area. Some of the images were beautiful.
Gallery of maps ceilingCeiling in the Gallery of Maps library
The tapestries on the walls were of the different maps of the world at the time they were created. The tapestries were hand crafted and stitched with gold thread throughout the designs. We went to the upper floor of the Gregorian Etruscan museum and saw the “round room” which was designed by Simonetti. In the middle of the round room is a large monolithic porphyry basin which is more than 4 meters in diameter.
A large monolithic porphyry basin in the Round room of the Vatican
There is also the sarcophagus of St. Helen, the Emperor Constantine’s mother.
The porphyry sarcophagus of St Helen, the Emperor of Constantine;s mother
We walked throughout the museums for approximately Ā two hours exploring Ā the numerous museums. Ray took video and was trying to see it all.
Ray taking video and enjoying the tour
Everywhere we looked there was gorgeous paintings and artwork. Even the floors were done in mosaics that displayed religious scenes.
Mosaic artwork on the floor of the Vatican MuseumMosaics floor area in Vatican museumMosaic tile artwork on the floor of the VaticanArtwork on the floor of the Vatican museumMosaic artwork on floor of Vatican museum
The ceilings had different artwork and designs throughout the museums.
Ceiling in the hallway of Vatican museum
We saw so many different and amazing pieces of art, architecture, and religious artifacts that it was almost impossible to take it all in. We will do separate blogs for the Sistine Chapel and Basilica of St. Peter.
The only drawback was the fact that there were so many tourists that Ā the museum was very crowded. It made it difficult to see everything and the take your time to view the beautiful artwork.
Below are some of the pictures we took when in the museum sections of the Vatican.
Statue in Vatican museum
Statue in Vatican museum
Artwork in Vatican museum
One of the many unique ceilings in Vatican museums
Mosaic tile floor
Mosaic tile floor
Various statues in Vatican museum
Statue in Vatican museum
Ceiling in Vatican
Room of animal statues in Vatican museum
Statue in Vatican museum
Ticket for Vatican tour
Sarcophagus in Vatican museum
ceiling ornate design
view of one of the Vatican museums
Ceiling in Vatican museum
Room of statues
Ceiling in Vatican museum
Tapestry in gallery of Maps
Ceiling with painting
Tapestry detail
Image of map in Gallery of maps
Hallway of maps
Ceiling paintings
Image of map on tapestry
Tapestry in Vatican museum
ceiling with windows in Vatican
windows in Vatican museum
hallway in Vatican
Statue in Vatican museum
Ornate hallway in Vatican museum
Ceiling painting in Vatican museum
Ornate pillar in Vatican museum
“bene vale , et postea videbo vos” (Latin) for good bye and see you later
We have been thinking about taking a cruise for quite some time now. We finally decided to take a cruise and selected the Norwegian cruise line with a 7-day Mediterranean cruise. The cruise took us from Barcelona to Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes, Marseille and back to Barcelona.
This was our first cruise and we were not sure what to expect when we arrived to board the ship. We arrived early and found a lineup of people with suitcases in tow getting ready to board the ship. We Got in line and managed to board the ship easily with a few stops to fill out paperwork.
Checking into the Norwegian Epic cruise ship in Barcelona
We walked a longĀ gangway to the cruise ship called the Epic.
View of the side of the Norwegian Epic ship from the gangway
The ship is the very impressive and it has the longest water slide on any cruise ship.
The Epic claims they have the largest slide on any cruise shipThe waterside goes right around the top section of the deck
We walked through the ship checking it out. On one of the decks, there is a section with several different restaurants and shops. In the centre of the floor area was an opening with a large crystal chandelier hanging down to the floor area below. It was quite impressive and a nice feature for the restaurant below us.
The Epic crystal chandelier claimed to be the largest of any cruise ship
Our first evening on the cruise we went up to the top deck area and enjoyed a relaxing beverage and watched the sun set over the Ā Mediterranean sea.
Sunset viewed from the upper deck of the Epic
On one of the lower decks, there was an outdoor track where we could walk and look out over the side of the ship.
Walking and running track on the Epic cruise ship.view from the walking/running track on the Epic ship
We took several excursions when the ship was docked. We tried to explore as many places along the trip as possible. Ā On one excursion we could not dock on shore and had to take a boat to ferry us to shore.
Leaving the cruise ship by boat to head to shore.View of the Epic ship from our boatView of one of the boats used to bring people to shore
The cruise was different from what we are accustomed to for travelling, the pace is relaxed, the downtime is full of things to do and the food was extremely good. We enjoyed the change of pace by travelling via a cruise ship.
Here is a short video of some of the highlights of the cruise ship “The Norwegian Epic”.
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