Went to see the Pope, he wasn't around...

Today, We went to the Vatican City.  For those who don't know, Vatican City is it's own sovereign country and the seat of the Roman Catholic Church.  It is where the pope (currently Pope Francis) lives and is the sight of St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world.

We started out the day with a tour.  Our tour guide was wonderfully knowledgeable about all things Vatican and took us all around explaining what we were seeing and what it all meant.  Also, inside the walls of the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel.  This is one of the most famous buildings in the world and is where Michelangelo spent 4 years on scaffolding, lying on his back, painting the ceiling with many things... Unfortunately, they do not allow pictures inside.  But let me tell you, it is one of the coolest things I have seen in all the travels.

St. Peter's Basilica is also quite beautiful with frescoes painted all around and sculptures all throughout the church.  We could also walk under the basilica where there are the tombs of many of the previous popes.

After we left there we walked by Castel Sant'Angelo and then around the city some more.

As promised, some pics from yesterday,

Sun shining through the oculus of the Pantheon.

Piazza Navona

Inside the Church of St. Ignatius

The Pigna, or Pine cone, which is placed in a courtyard linking the Vatican and the Piazza del Belvedere.

The ceiling in the hall of maps.  As you might be able to see, there are maps all along the walls here of towns and regions of Italy.

St. Peter's Basilica from the inside.