Best of Italy: Rome Continued!

Over my winter break, I traveled with two friends to Milan (1 day), Florence (2 days) and Rome (4 days). Seeing as I took over 500 pictures, 200 of which were probably of the Vatican alone (oops), I'll reserve these posts for my favorite moments. You're welcome. To see all 500 pictures (haha) check out my absurdly large album on facebook. :)

Outside the Vatican with Lauren.

We passed security! About to enter St. Peter's Basilica...

From the inside of the Pope's Door. This door is opened by the Pope himself once every 20 years for the pilgrims to enter by. The Pope smashes this concrete wall with a hammer in order to open the door= symbolic of the destruction and rebuilding of our souls! The last time it was opened was in 2000. Notice the cross that has been worn away at the bottom by all the pilgrims touching it (myself included...) Oh, the benefits of guided-tours!

La Pieta ~Michelangelo. When it was first made, it received tons of criticism, all of which can be nullified!

The Blessed John Paul II.

Pope John XXIII. "The Good Pope" who called the Second Vatican Council and proposed reforms such as translating mass from Latin into the vernacular and changing the position of the priests to face the congregation as they celebrate Mass. His body has been perfectly preserved and is considered by many as a miracle, a testament to his incorrupt state. His face is completely unchanged since the time of his death, as if he's sleeping.

Oh, wow, St. Peter's.

The main altar piece directly above St. Peter's tomb. Spirals were Michelangelo's way of showing the complications we face as we try to know and love God.

My favorite part of the basilica, and perhaps one of the simplest parts: a golden stained glass window above the back altar depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove.

Michelangelo's painting of the Transfiguration!

St. Peter's with Lauren. We also visited the crypt of former popes down below.

Entering the Vatican museum

Eyes of marble and silver!

THIS IS A 2D PAINTING. ?!!?!?!?

Best Italian tour guide ever! She loves to say: "Is weird, no?" "I explain you...", "very expressing"and "ya."
Here we are in a hall dedicated entirelyto Italian geography- every square inch of the walls was covered with maps of Italy.

Painting of the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano in which a Basilian priest, doubting transubstantiation as he celebrated Mass in the Latin Rite with unleavened bread, witnesses the consecrated host turn into flesh and begin to bleed.

Modern representation of the calling of the Second Vatican Council

I'm not a huge fan of modern art, but I couldn't stop looking at this.

Really bad picture of the Sistine Chapel front altar and stranger woman. (I had to hide the camera because pics technically aren't allowed...)

Front altar and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel!

Celebrating Leap Day: Feb. 29th, 2012!

Sunset on the Tivere (Tiber) River with all 3 of us!

Ponte Saint Angelo at sunset with St. Peter's in the background.

Piazza di Spagna, Spanish steps!

Admiring Rome from Villa Borghese.

Who's winning?

Flaminio Church

Coucher de soleil

ROMA

Si bella

Lauren and Jessie at the Piazza della Repubblica at night!

Colosseum at night!

This was actually in Bergamo: pizza buffala with tomates and mozarella. Jessie and I each managed to eat an entire pizza...yikes! haha. It was so worthwhile. We also tasted Bergamo's regional specialty, Palanta, at an outdoor café. It greatly resembled couscous in terms of texture, with a taste very similar to grits. You can order it buttered or with cheese. Very filling, very delicious!

Roman night: out on the town with some students we met at our hostel who hailed from America, England and South Africa!

One final memorable happening: perusing an Italian grocery store and getting so lost that we couldn't find the exit (comment sortir?!?!?) An Italian man literally led us by the hand to the uscita. I didn't manage to capture this milestone, thankfully. :)