A bit tired this morning and we had set the alarm for 6.30 as we had a 10 am "skip the line" guided tour of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums and St. Paul's Basilica at ten. Decided to grab a cab to the meeting point which was a good move and arrived at 8.50. This resulted in us being allowed to join the 9 am Tour with our City Wonders tour guide; Tiberius. ( Gee we are getting some good names). Given this was opening time, I'm glad we got skip the line, but all that meant was once inside you just joined the HUGE conga line of groups and individuals being herded through whole place. Way too many people allowed at once (suppose the RC church being poor need the money) and I'm sorry but I did not enjoy the experience and will never go back. It was a three hour tour and I was ready to go before the first hour had concluded. Don't get me wrong, the artworks, tapestries, Raphael rooms and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling are just breathtaking, but I now know how cattle and chickens feel when packed into the transport trucks; not fun.
St Peter's Basilica was a bit better as more room for the masses, but I'm afraid by that time, I just wanted out of there and even though we could have returned to the museum we both left feeling a little disappointed in the experience.
From here we walked back across the Tiber to go and have a look at the Pantheon. As it was quite a warm day we stopped and had a delightful lunch; salad and pasta (with refreshing beer for both) before walking some more to the Pantheon.This was an amazing building, temple now a church ( worlds largest non-reinforced concrete dome) constructed about 120 AD ? and the hole in the centre letting light in was sensational. Faith restored. Walked out and then around the local vicinity, seeing the Largo di Torre Argentia ruins site where Julius Caesar was killed before finally ending up at the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Moggiore. This was just beautiful with the most amazing roman mosaics throughout the walls and floors and breathtaking gold ceilings. Wandered for some time in here as not that busy and almost five. Found some fantastic door handles in a side chapel which when I enquired as to the meaning of them, lead to three different persons running around to find out for me, great service. Eventually was informed they were representative of the coat of arms of the influential Borghese family around the 1600's, the heads of an eagle and a dragon on a serpents body; great fun. It was then a gentle wander (as absolutely knackered now and knee very sore) back to the Ritz for a little vino, beer and nibbles before heading out for dinner to another recommended restaurant by our host, Cristina.
The restaurant was Sciue Sciue with a slightly modern approach. Started with some prawns wrapped in zucchini, followed by a chicken dish for Jane and a brilliant sliced veal and potato with char grilled peppers; accompanied by a Pecorino and Chianti; yum. Finished with Sicilian cheesecake and tiramisu and a digestive grappa and limoncello. By now well after ten so a waddle home and a well deserved rest for some tired feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment