In Search for the Sistine Chapel

Having finished our visit to St Peter's Basilica, we basked in the sunshine and the grandeur of this papal basilica in Via della Conciliazione while eating our sandwich bought from the 'mobile' store. As soon as we were breaking bread, pigeons of various sizes, colors, and tidyness came to beg for some crumbs. Some were too quick to catch, others were too slow. I was surprised to see an outsider joining the fray - a sparrow (maya).

There was a store of religious articles near were we sat as well as beggars. Rome has quite a number of beggars unlike in Nottingham where it is actually forbidden to beg or give alms to beggars.

As it was getting hot, we stood up and asked a man where is the way to the Sistine Chapel, the last leg of our tour at the Vatican. He pointed us to his left, the Via di Porta Angelica. As we trod along, we saw more pilgrims who, I assume, were on their way to this famous chapel where popes get elected. On our left was the compound where the papal office and residence are located. Across the road are stores and restaurants. Although pizza is a well-known Italian delicacy, it never occured to me that Italians have a sweet tooth as evidenced by numerous stores selling ice cream! On the way, we were met by a handful of black men persuadingly selling hand bags.

I thought the chapel was near when we have to make two more left turns to the Musei Vaticani (Vatican Museums) which actually houses the Sistine Chapel. Before our last turn towards Viale Vaticano, we passed by the gate where, I think, the pope's car goes through - his coat of arms could be seen in the gate. I wanted to knock just to say Ciao to His Holiness.

The Museums are massive repositories of works of arts that have been the collection of several pontiffs who ruled the Church way back in the 16th century - their collections though dates back further. After purchasing our tickets, we went up via a steep escalator. We came to see a number of exhibits including naked statues of Roman heroes or gods. Then went out to this garden where there's water flowing from the mouth of a statue. It may be too hot and one could be tempted to drink from this statue, but a caution has been inscribed beneath it: Non potabile (Not suitable for drinking.)

We were getting tired, yet haven't reached our sought after chapel. There were signs pointing us to it so we continued our trek. Along the way we saw more exhibits - paintings, statues, ornate ceilings, human bodies ( living that is, as we have to walk side by side with other tourists who are eager to see the chapel).

Nidz felt exhausted as though she was about to give birth so we stopped and took a seat which, luckily, were situated along the aisle. It was also good to let others pass through. Then we resumed our journey. "No wonder the recent papal election was that short! The cardinal-electors had a hard time travelling to the Sistine Chapel!" I told my wife. "They surely have a different way to get there!" she retorted.

Finally, we set foot at the Capella Sistina. A lot of pilgrims were already there, being reminded by ushers not to take pictures (although some could manage). This is the most famous chapel in the papal residence. There was an altar and a crucifix on top of it. The background of this is Michelangelo's The Last Judgment. At the center, one could see Jesus giving His verdict on the just and the wicked. We took our seats on one side of the chapel, looking with awe at Michelangelo's work as well as those of other Italian painters like Botticelli and Perugino.

I have lost count of the time, but I think we walked past all the various museums comprising the Vatican Museums for an hour and a half to reach the Sistine Chapel. Having been satisfied with this visit, we had some photo opportunities as well as meeting Filipinos. At the uscita, we met an English couple who were with us on the plane on our way to Rome.

Returning to Piazza San Pietro, we sat on one side of the collonades recollecting how the tour was. We had a few photo shots with the basilica, fountain, or the obelisk at the center of the piazza as background. An American lady and her husband were kind enough to take our photos.

Feeling the heat, we drank from the springs near the obelisk. I left St Peter's with a flying kiss and a tap on one of the pillars of the collonade.

San Pietro, prega per noi.

Up Next: In Mary's Greatest Shrine