If you missed my first travel entry, check it out here. This is the second installment in my Italy and Switzerland Adventure recap.
Our fourth and final day in Rome was filled with faith, history, and tradition. And gelato.
We spent the morning in the Jewish Museum of Rome, which is located in the Great Synagogue. Rome’s Jewish community dates back to the second century BCE, and the current synagogue was completed in 1904, thirty four years after the ghetto was dismantled and Jews were granted citizenship. The smaller Spanish Synagogue is in the same building.
The Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) hangs above the ark in every synagogue.
The Great Synagogue is the largest temple in Rome, and the largest I have ever seen. I’m not accustomed to seeing such ornate architecture in synagogues, and the grandeur astounded me.
The dome of the Great Synagogue is the only square one in Rome, making it easily identifiable from anywhere in the city. I didn’t have a wide enough camera lens to take a good photo from the outside, but the inside view is stunning.
After the tour, we walked almost two miles along the Tiber River to Vatican City, and joined the hordes of visitors at the Vatican Museum. This was the busiest, most crowded place we visited during our trip. It was during this tour that we learned firsthand (first smell?) that not every culture stresses a need for daily bathing and deodorant usage.
The museum had everything from ancient statues to more ancient mummies, from medieval art to Renaissance works by Rafael and Michelangelo. We craned our necks to gaze upon the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, where photos are forbidden. I could have tried to sneak a shot, but it would have been a poor representation of a masterpiece best seen in person.
I did get a mummy shot, though.
She really needs a mani/pedi.
I will admit that most marble nudes look the same to me, but I was on the lookout for a particular one. On our food tour two days before, one of the stops was in the wine cellar of a restaurant. One hundred and sixty five years earlier, a two thousand year old statue was discovered in that cellar. That statue is now in the Vatican museum – how cool is that? Now that is worthy of a photo.
As cool as the museum was, climbing the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica was cooler. Since our dogs were barking, we opted to take the elevator for the first portion of the climb (231 steps), and then walk up the remaining 320 steps. Not long after we started climbing, we arrived at the base of the dome with an aerial view of the floor of the Basilica. It was a few minutes after 5:00 p.m., and Mass was starting.
The priests (in red) are on the lower altar; only the Pope leads Mass from Papal Altar behind them.
We climbed some more, until we had to climb leaning inward as the dome narrowed at the top. Breathing hard and sweating profusely, we were rewarded with a bit of a breeze and these views.
Looking east towards the Colosseum (a little north of dead center in the photo)
An aerial view of St. Peter’s Square
The Vatican Gardens
Directly behind the Basilica is the papal residence, although Pope Francis reportedly lives in the guest house.
The Basilica is immense, as you would expect the world’s largest church to be.
See the railings at the top of the dome? That’s where we were standing for the ariel photos.
Even at the opposite end of St. Peter’s Square, I couldn’t fit the entire building in a photo.
I defy anyone – of any religion or none – to stand inside the Basilica and not be astounded. The architecture, the stones, the gold, the vastness…all create an otherworldly feeling. To give an idea of the size and scope, the letters that surround the base of the dome are seven feet high.
We left the Basilica utterly exhausted, and walked back to our apartment to pack up for our next stop…Florence! After one last gelato, of course. Final gelato count for Rome: eight.
Four nights down; ten to go! If you’re not tired of reading, I have plenty more to share. Until next time…
I too got confused with the ‘dogs are barking’ phrase! Glad you cleared that up!
LOL to the realization that not everyone has a daily shower and deo use routine!!
The pics are just stunning but I imagine for you, it’s just nothing like the real thing!!
Absolutely, Roshni. Wait until you see the Swiss Alps photos – they are pretty cool, but still so lacking compared to the real thing.
Dana, did you write your dogs were barking? You brought your dogs to Europe? I’m so confused. Pictures are amazing, truly. The synagogue is amazing, I had no idea. That’s very cool. I can’t wait to see more:).
You are the second person who asked about the dogs…”my dogs are barking” is an expression meaning your feet are killing you. My grandmother used to say it.
What a day! So enriching in a variety of ways. And that’s why we travel, no? Your photos are amazing. Love that you included an outside shot so we could see where you were standing. Please have a gelato or six for me. Looking forward to traveling to Florence via you!
The gelato was even better in Florence, Kelly!
Impressive shots. I was in Rome and Florence in 2007. One of the best trips of my life. So beautiful. That’s really cool about the statue found in the restaurant. It really takes your breath away as an American to be surrounded by such ancient artifacts. Humbling.
It really is. I was awed standing where in front of the Statue of Liberty or in Williamsburg, but that’s nothing compared to ancient Rome.
Wow! I have never been in that synagogue or even seen a picture. Incredible!
That synagogue is absolutely gorgeous! I so want to go back to the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s square, now. Your pictures are just gorgeous, too. Love hearing about your trip!
Glad you are enjoying the posts, Leslie!
So about this gelato…….. did you take a picture of all of them because I could serious look and read about your gelato experience. You could describe the taste in comparison to American gelato. I swear I wouldn’t be bored. Just jealous.
As the the architecture in this post, it is STUNNING.
I gotta say the mummy toes kinda freaked me out.
I planned to take a photo of each gelato, but I only ended up taking a handful because I was too busy eating.
Yeah, the toes are kinda gross.
Gorgeous photos! And great stories too 🙂
Thanks Christie.
Definitely worth the climb! I felt somewhat the same way standing inside Notre Dame – overwhelmed by the history and magnificence. i’m sure the Vatican is even more enthralling!
It’s so big, Lisa. There are marks on the floor showing where other churches would end if put inside St. Peter’s, and that really made me realize how vast it truly is.
Wow! I can imagine that your dogs were barking, indeed!!!! You covered a lot of ground and are giving me so many great ideas as I plan our future trip to Rome.
Yay! I love to share trip ideas. Happy planning!
I rarely have a wide enough lens for such grandeur. But man.. that ceiling! And the rainbow colors!
I love the light shining in that last photo. Love it.
I’m booking a trip to Rome right now. (wishful thinking kidding)
I love that light shining in too…I was trying to channel my inner Tamara. So often I took photos and they just fell flat in comparison to the real thing. Then I put my camera away and just enjoyed the experience.
What an incredible trip! The Great Synagogue looks like an amazing place, and a mummy spotting is very cool 🙂
It was. Hard to believe that leathery thing was once a living, breathing person.
WOW WOW WOW.
Such exquisiteness, history, beauty!
That mummy. WHAT?!!!
x amazing.
The mummy was amazing, and kinda gross. My kind of museum exhibit!
You always leave me wanting more! Just amazing. There really are no other words. And please keep the gelato tally going…I’m want to beat the record 🙂
Just try, Allie. Just try. 😉
I knew we should have gone to the top of the basilica! Note to self for next time. The synagogue photos look amazing too, would love to explore that as well. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
We climbed the Duomo too…actually, this trip had tons of climbing. It offset the gelato!
Dana, your photos! They’re incredible! What an amazing trip. You and your family will remember this adventure forever and ever. I wanna go!!!
We will remember it forever – so, so incredible.
dana, I have to compliment you on your photography. these pictures are amazing. I really feel like I’m sightseeing while reading your posts. I’m so excited to read more. did I mention…I LOVE ITALY!
You may have mentioned it 🙂 I’m so glad you are enjoying these posts…next stop, Florence!
Oh Dana…. I am in awe of those visuals you shared along with your testimony to the greatest that I can’t even see! Wow. I can only imagine the wonder of it all… and the history behind it is fascinating.
Your dogs were barking? You brought dogs? Wha?
KEEP SHARING!! I want MORE MORE MORE!!!
Yes ma’am!
your photos are AH-MAZING!!!! Framable, gorgeous art. I’m loving hearing about this trip. It’s inspiring! I’d love to take my boys abroad someday, and truthfully it sounds sort of impossible…..but you are showing how possible and incredible it would be. So happy for you, Dana. MWA XOXO
It’s not impossible, Beth – it just takes lots of planning. And as an obsessive planner, I’d love for my efforts to be helpful to other people too. I’m dorky that way.
Just amazing Dana…the views, the architecture, the history…wow!
I know! I was blown away.
I ate so much gelato when I was in Italy!
I have never seen a synagogue like that. I don’t believe I went there when I was in Rome. The most ornate in-person synagogue I have seen is in Cincinnati.
It was amazing to see the Sistine Chapel in person and see Michelangelo’s work firsthand. Can you imagine painting like that on the ceiling? Must have been exhausting!
It must have been – to see that ceiling, and other paintings that spanned entire walls and rooms…the concentration and stamina of the artists is amazing to me.
Loving your travel posts. You can add “travel writer” to your list of accomplishments. Photos are amazing. Thanks for sharing!!!
My pleasure, Karen. It helps me organize all the photos so I can put an album together. Although at this rate it won’t be until 2016…
What incredible view you got!!! Your pics are amazing!
Thanks Leah!
Wow, your photos are amazing and absolutely makes me want to visit if I didn’t already. Seriously, I truly hope someday we get to make this trip, too 😉
Me too, Janine!