June 2015 - The Vatican

Two highlights of the Vatican. First the Raphael rooms, from the Vatican museum, with walls and ceilings covered in masterpieces. Then the mother church itself: St. Peter's Basilica. Overflowing with Roman marble and tasteful opulence, from Michelangelo's Pietà to Michelangelo's dome.

Entering the Raphael rooms, with enormous masterpieces for walls	Constantine defeating Maxentius	The Milvian Bridge
Entering the Raphael rooms, with enormous masterpieces for walls	Constantine defeating Maxentius	The Milvian Bridge
The baptism of Constantine. (A bit romanticized, he was actually baptized on his deathbed at age 65).	Walls and ceilings completely covered in the Constantine room	A really striking image of the Catholic empire taking the place of the Roman empire
The baptism of Constantine. (A bit romanticized, he was actually baptized on his deathbed at age 65).	Walls and ceilings completely covered in the Constantine room	A really striking image of the Catholic empire taking the place of the Roman empire
The Deliverance of Saint Peter, a lovely night scene	The School of Athens
The Deliverance of Saint Peter, a lovely night scene	The School of Athens
The ceiling		The Battle of Ostia, fighting off the Muslim invaders
The ceiling		The Battle of Ostia, fighting off the Muslim invaders
The ceiling	St. Peter's	Inside the basilica
The ceiling	St. Peter's	Inside the basilica
	Roman marble _everywhere_
	Roman marble _everywhere_
		A city's worth of marble
		A city's worth of marble
		The list of popes, going back to S. Petrus
		The list of popes, going back to S. Petrus
Andrew in a mixture of marbles
Andrew in a mixture of marbles
The Holy Ghost window	The Pietà
The Holy Ghost window	The Pietà
The Vatican guard	The front of St. Peter's basilica	St. Peter's Square
The Vatican guard	The front of St. Peter's basilica	St. Peter's Square