To Vatican City, the headquarters of Roman Catholicism, Round-the-world trip itinerary: Vatican City, Italy

The Temple of Beauty Visited by a Monk - Vatican City, the Head Temple of Roman Catholicism Monk Takahiro Ueda's Circumnavigation of the World: Vatican City, Italy List

After enjoying the beautiful port city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, we will finally head to the Vatican, the headquarters of Roman Catholicism.

Since the Vatican is located in the city of Rome, Italy, I decided to first head to Rome, Italy, and stay at a hotel near the Vatican.

Rome is a city of history and art with no end of tourist attractions such as the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain.

I really wanted to see a lot of the Roman heritage, but I could only stay here for three nights and four days.

We cannot afford to disperse this and that.

So I decided to concentrate all my efforts on the Vatican and concentrate here.

And the strategy hit the jackpot.

I was so fascinated by the beauty and majesty of the Vatican that I spent every day visiting the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.

I was immersed in the overwhelming beauty at the Vatican all morning and into the evening.

To be honest, I wished I could stay here all the time for another week or so. No, if I were to say it was extravagant, that would not be enough at all.

The beauty of the Vatican was that overwhelming.

The Vatican section in Italy provides a record of such a stay in the Vatican.

As the title says, we will specialize in the Vatican and enjoy its beauty to the fullest.

As a monk who has studied religious studies, I will introduce the charms and highlights of the Vatican, which are different from those explained in guidebooks and other publications.

Entering Italy and the beautiful Vatican Museums Vatican, Italy (1)

Arrive at a hotel near the Vatican from Dubrovnik.

The Vatican can be seen from the hotel's rooftop terrace.

The area with the large brown building in front of the photo is already Vatican City territory.

Before visiting the Vatican, we had to eat.

When we think of Italy, we think of pasta.

We had the pasta recommended by the restaurant.

Crispy bacon and tomato-based pasta.

That's the real deal. This is quite good!

The espresso I got after dinner was also excellent.

Rome's espresso is said to be the best in the world. Very satisfying!

Finally, we will head to the Vatican Museums.

The Vatican Museums, one of the most famous museums in the world, were also exceptional.

I am no longer at a loss for words. The sheer size, the sheer volume of the artwork, and the overwhelming quality. And the overwhelming quality. I was simply stunned.

This article will discuss the Vatican Museums.

Entering Italy and the beautiful Vatican Museums Vatican, Italy (1)

Breakfast at the Vatican - Museum of Silence and Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Italy (2)

May 9. It is 7:00 in the morning. Walking through sparsely populated morning Rome, we head for the Vatican Museums.

Meet at the entrance of the museum at 7:15.

As the title says, today we will have breakfast at the Vatican Museums.

The advantage of this admission ticket with breakfast is that it allows visitors to enter the museum one hour early, when it normally opens at 9:00 a.m.

This means that visitors can take their time to enjoy the museum in a quiet environment without being caught up in the huge crowds of yesterday.

Meals are buffet style.

After being shown to your seat, you are free to do whatever you want.

It is not on the level of a luxury hotel, but from my point of view, there are more than enough items to go around.

One of my favorites is the freshly baked pancakes.

Why are pancakes so delicious when eaten on the road?

And this is the Vatican.

It is rare to find such a wonderful breakfast venue.

Good weather. Good scenery. Good sense of freedom.

There is nothing more to say. It is the best breakfast I have ever had.

And the best advantage of this admission ticket with breakfast is that you can enter the museum before anyone else!

In other words, you can take your time to enjoy the empty museum!

How about this difference! It's obvious when you compare them!

Happiness to be immersed in the world's finest art in a museum where the scene is quiet...!

This is really worth it! I definitely recommend it!

And the great thing about this ticket is that you can also go to the Sistine Chapel in the same vein.

Photography is not allowed inside, so there are no pictures, but this is a chapel famous for its mural of Michelangelo's Last Judgment.

It is also uncommonly crowded during the daytime, and the noisy atmosphere makes it difficult to relax and enjoy the view.

However, if you take advantage of the early morning admission, you can enjoy the quietness of the Sistine Chapel to your heart's content.

This experience was irreplaceable.

This article is especially important to read if you are going to Italy. I am sure you will find it useful.

Breakfast at the Vatican - Museum of Silence and Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Italy (2)

What are the characteristics and attractions of Michelangelo's works?　Vatican, Italy (3)

Some of you may have had this impression after reading my previous articles on the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

What is the Sistine Chapel anyway? What's so great about it?"

You hear a lot about Michelangelo being famous, but why is he so famous?"

That has been my question for a long time, as I recall.

This article will therefore explain what the Sistine Chapel is, what makes Michelangelo's work so amazing, and why he is considered the greatest genius in history.

The key to understanding his overwhelming genius lies in the ancient Roman sculptures on display in the Vatican Museums.

How did these statues influence the genius Michelangelo?

I am sure you will be surprised to learn this.

And the way you see "The Last Judgment" and other very famous works you have seen so far will change dramatically.

These statues and Michelangelo's works teach us about the fascinating history of art.

This article is recommended even for those who are not so interested in art. No, it is especially for those who do not usually have much contact with art that you should read this article. I am sure you will find it interesting.

Explanation of the source of Michelangelo's overwhelming talent!　Vatican, Italy (3)

A temple of beauty! St. Peter's Basilica - overwhelmed by beauty beyond imagination Vatican, Italy Part 4

St. Peter's Basilica. This is the main temple of Roman Catholicism.

As the sanctuary of more than one billion believers, it is a cathedral of unparalleled majesty.

On the roof, the saints look down on us, or rather all of Rome.

You will be surprised as soon as you enter.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event.

What a space...!"

Breathtaking and majestic.

We have come to the central altar.

The sight was so overwhelming that I forgot to even breathe.

I can't keep my mouth shut.

What the... what the hell is this place?

I have never seen a church like this.

What's that tall black sculpture in the front?

What is the golden stained glass behind it? What about the bronze statue below it? Is the side of the altar a wall in the first place? Is it a pillar?

I don't know everything anymore.

I do not know of any church that was built with this kind of composition.

That's the Vatican. It's a world far beyond my imagination...!

And in this cathedral, there is a statue called Pietà by Michelangelo.

It was created by that Michelangelo mentioned in the previous article when he was 24 years old.

Michelangelo's talent as a sculptor is on full display in this work.

For me, this was the most memorable of all the Vatican experiences.

Maria's sad but compassionate expression.

And the expression of the dead Jesus. The body without strength.

The lightness of the garment as if mass had been lost from the marble.

I can't take my eyes off it...too beautiful...!

I just kept looking at this statue, entranced. During that time, my mind is almost nothing. I can't think of anything. Nothing comes to mind...

The statue of Pietà in my field of vision was all I had.

Then I suddenly came to myself and 15 minutes had passed.

I was so enthralled that my consciousness was taken away for 15 minutes...

I was truly surprised that this is what it means to be fascinated by art.

This article will talk about St. Peter's Basilica, which boasts such overwhelming beauty.

The Vatican is just too wonderful. I can't spend enough time in the Vatican.

A temple of beauty! St. Peter's Basilica - overwhelmed by beauty beyond imagination Vatican, Italy Part 4

What is St. Peter's Basilica anyway? Why is this a holy place?　Vatican, Italy (5)

In my last article, I introduced St. Peter's Basilica to you all.

This St. Peter's Basilica is so famous as a holy place of pilgrimage and as a tourist attraction.

However, it may be difficult for many people to quickly answer the question of what St. Peter's Basilica is for in the first place.

It is the headquarters of Roman Catholicism, and its center is St. Peter's Basilica."

Yes, that is not wrong, but why then did there have to be a Christian sanctuary here in the Vatican?

Why not in Israel? Was it not in other places?

Was there a particular reason why it had to be here in Rome?

-The answer is yes.

This place was absolutely necessary for the development of Christianity.

To know the origins of St. Peter's Basilica is to know the foundation of Roman Catholicism.

In this article, we will discuss what St. Peter's Basilica is all about in the first place.

What is St. Peter's Basilica anyway? Why is this a holy place?　Vatican, Italy (5)

Michelangelo and Bernini: Two Geniuses and St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, Italy (6)

In my previous article, I talked about what kind of building St. Peter's Basilica is in the first place, and what meaning it holds.

St. Peter's Basilica was built over the tomb of St. Peter, the first disciple of Jesus Christ.

In this article, I will discuss the architecture of St. Peter's Basilica and the two geniuses, Michelangelo and Bernini.

The project to build St. Peter's Basilica was a long-term project spanning more than 100 years, from 1506 to 1615.

When you are going to build something huge, you first make blueprints and then proceed with construction based on them. This is the usual pattern as far as I can imagine.

However, things did not go so easily for St. Peter's Basilica.

In the dome section alone, the design plan was changed three times during the construction process due to the death of the architect.

And again, the men and women are tremendous.

The following four people, listed in order of appointment, were involved in the design of the dome section of this cathedral.

Bramante → Raphael → Sangallo → Michelangelo

Many of you may be surprised to see this.

Yes. That Raphael and Michelangelo were involved as architects of this dome.

Raphael is that Raphael who painted "The School of Athens.

He is that Michelangelo who has also been mentioned in previous articles on Michelangelo.

Amazingly, they also had the talent of architects. And a top-notch one at that.

And although the plan was changed several times during the construction process (unfortunately, Raphael's plan was never released to the public), Michelangelo's plan was finally adopted, and the current dome portion is attributed to his design.

Now, the entire exterior of St. Peter's Basilica was completed in 1615.

The exterior is complete. Next, we must begin work on the interior.

Then came the second genius, Bernini.

Bernini (1598-1680) was a rare genius in the history of art, who was said to have demonstrated his talent from an early age and was expected to rival Michelangelo.

Bernini's first commission from the Vatican was to make the baldacchino, the canopy that covers the main altar.

This main altar is the center of St. Peter's Basilica, and only the Pope can offer Mass here.

In fact, it is in the space directly below that is the tomb of St. Peter.

A sacred place within a sacred place, so to speak. Bernini was commissioned to decorate the most important place in this space.

This unique form of baldacchino is made of bronze.

Twisted columns and detailed decoration.

It is hard for me to describe, as I am not an art expert, but they have a mysterious appearance that makes viewers gasp in surprise, and a charm that for some reason I cannot take my eyes off of them.

Even more surprisingly, Bernini even designed St. Peter's Square.

Bernini's achievements do not end with the interior decoration of the cathedral.

The presence of this square adds to the majesty of St. Peter's Basilica.

This article will also discuss the secrets of Bernini's architecture.

This article explains with what intention the huge church buildings were built. You will surely find some surprising discoveries here as well.

Michelangelo and Bernini: Two Geniuses and St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, Italy (6)

Excellent espresso recommended by a Rome connoisseur! Days at the Vatican and Departure from Italy Vatican, Italy (7)

His stay at the Vatican will be four days, from May 8 to 11.

I spent every day of the last four days in the Vatican Museums and visited St. Peter's Basilica.

Frankly, four days is not enough at all.

I sincerely wished I could stay here for another week or so.

That is how interesting and fascinating the Vatican was to me.

This article first describes Raphael's paintings in the Vatican Museums and the night view of the Vatican that I have not been able to introduce in the previous articles.

And finally, when it comes to Rome, espresso is the name of the game.

I was told about this restaurant, Castroni, by Mirza, who helped me in Bosnia.

Mirza is a Rome connoisseur who has lived in Rome for over 10 years.

The person said, "This is the best place to eat. All the locals go here," so there is no doubt about it.

The store itself is a grocery store, which means it has a wide selection of local foods, but go to the back and you will find a coffee counter.

Here, you can enjoy a cup of espresso made by an uncle while standing at the counter.

This is the Roman coffee style.

I will drink it as soon as possible.

What the...? What is this...?

Delicious ... too delicious! ...but I have no idea what it tastes like!

My head is confused! I don't know, but it tastes good anyway!

This was a strange experience. It is very good to be confused.

I was completely hooked on this flavor.

From then on, I went to this place every day and followed a strange routine of ordering two drinks from the start, downing them all at once, and then leaving.

This article describes those days at the Vatican.

Excellent espresso recommended by a Rome connoisseur! Days at the Vatican and Departure from Italy Vatican, Italy (7)

Conclusion

The four days at the Vatican were truly amazing.

It was my first experience to be so fascinated by art.

The Vatican in Italy is, needless to say, a very popular overseas travel destination for Japanese people. Therefore, there are many people who have already been to the Vatican and many more who would like to go there in the future.

In this Vatican section, we will talk about the Vatican from various angles. We hope that you will find it useful as we introduce the Vatican from a different perspective from guidebooks and other sources.

This article is a must read for anyone interested in the Vatican. I am sure you will find it interesting.

The above is a list of "Enjoy the temple of beauty to the fullest! Vatican City visited by a monk".

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