Italy 2010

Andrea, Ed and Beth's trip to Italy. A week in Rome, a week in Sorrento and a week in Tuscany with lots of interesting side trips. One day of rain on the last day, but otherwise beautiful weather. The pictures in this group were taken mostly with Ed's camera (Nikon D200), Andrea's camera (Canon SD1000) and Beth's camera (Canon SD630)

Day 2 - Morning walk, the Vatican, evening in Rome

We started day 2 with a short walk in the neighborhood, then spent most of rest of the day at the Vatican, exploring the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Square, and St. Peter's Basilica. In the evening, we had a group dinner and a drive around the city.


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Day 1 - Arrival in Rome Day 1 - Arrival in Rome	A quick walking tour the morning after we arrived. This is a first glimpse of the dome of St. Peters Basilica from a couple of blocks away. We spent most of the rest of this day exploring the Vatican. A quick walking tour the morning after we arrived. This is a first glimpse of the dome of St. Peters Basilica from a couple of blocks away. We spent most of the rest of this day exploring the Vatican.	This modern building houses an old fashioned fresh food market, which is the typical way people grocery shop. This modern building houses an old fashioned fresh food market, which is the typical way people grocery shop.		Day 3 - Trastavere, Catacombs Day 3 - Trastavere, Catacombs
When the line at the Vatican Museum was way too long, Ed walked over the St Peter's Square to take a few shots. The line at the museum evaporated around lunch time. When the line at the Vatican Museum was way too long, Ed walked over the St Peter's Square to take a few shots. The line at the museum evaporated around lunch time.	St Peters Basilica from across the square St Peters Basilica from across the square		The Bernini fountain, (1667-77.) This was built to make the piazza symetric with Maderno's fountain (1612-14) on the other side. The Bernini fountain, (1667-77.) This was built to make the piazza symetric with Maderno's fountain (1612-14) on the other side.	Shot of the Basilica Dome, designed by Michelangelo Shot of the Basilica Dome, designed by Michelangelo
The obelisk in the center of Piazza San Pietro was brought from Alexandria to the Vatican Circuit by Caligula in 37 AD. It was moved to Piazza San Pietro in 1586 under Sixtus V. The obelisk was originally built by Pharaoh Mencares in 1835 BC and erected in Heliopolis. The obelisk in the center of Piazza San Pietro was brought from Alexandria to the Vatican Circuit by Caligula in 37 AD. It was moved to Piazza San Pietro in 1586 under Sixtus V. The obelisk was originally built by Pharaoh Mencares in 1835 BC and erected in Heliopolis.
	Detail of one of the fountain bases Detail of one of the fountain bases	Detail of the base of the Egytian obelisk. "Sixtus V, Supreme Pontiff, with great effort moved the Vatican obelisk, once dedicated to the impious cult of the people of Dis to the threshold of the Apostles in the second year of his pontificate, year 1586." Detail of the base of the Egytian obelisk. "Sixtus V, Supreme Pontiff, with great effort moved the Vatican obelisk, once dedicated to the impious cult of the people of Dis to the threshold of the Apostles in the second year of his pontificate, year 1586."	Shot of the Basilica from the Colonade. Shot of the Basilica from the Colonade.	The left colonnade The left colonnade
	On the street near St. Peter's square. On the street near St. Peter's square.
Walking by the Vatican wall on the way back toward the Vatican Museum. The line turned out to be completely gone at lunchtime approached Walking by the Vatican wall on the way back toward the Vatican Museum. The line turned out to be completely gone at lunchtime approached	The Monte Mario Observatory (Sede di Monte Mario, literally "Monte Mario Site") is an astronomical observatory and is part of the Rome Observatory (Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma). It is located atop of Monte Mario in Rome, Italy. This location (12°27'8.4"E ) was used as the prime meridian (rather than Greenwich) for maps of Italy until the 1960s. The Monte Mario Observatory (Sede di Monte Mario, literally "Monte Mario Site") is an astronomical observatory and is part of the Rome Observatory (Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma). It is located atop of Monte Mario in Rome, Italy. This location (12°27'8.4"E ) was used as the prime meridian (rather than Greenwich) for maps of Italy until the 1960s.	Vatican Museum garden Vatican Museum garden	The dome of St Peters seen from Vatican Museum garden. The dome of St Peters seen from Vatican Museum garden.
	Part of the Vatican Museum seen from the museum courtyard Part of the Vatican Museum seen from the museum courtyard		On of the museum buildings On of the museum buildings
Display in the courtyard. The base of the Column of Antoninus Pius Display in the courtyard. The base of the Column of Antoninus Pius
Entrance hall with mosaics Entrance hall with mosaics		Wall Mosaics from the baths of Caracalla, built AD 212-216. Wall Mosaics from the baths of Caracalla, built AD 212-216.		The Sala Rotonda is built like a miniature Pantheon. Most impressive was the second century mosaic floor from the Italian town of Otricoli. The Sala Rotonda is built like a miniature Pantheon. Most impressive was the second century mosaic floor from the Italian town of Otricoli.
Second century mosaic floor. The huge bowl in the middle of the room, estimated to be from second century Egypt, was given to Pope Julius III (1550-55) by Ascanio Colonna. Second century mosaic floor. The huge bowl in the middle of the room, estimated to be from second century Egypt, was given to Pope Julius III (1550-55) by Ascanio Colonna.	Mosaic floor detail Mosaic floor detail	Ceiling of the Sala delle Muse, built by Simonetti on commission from Pius VI Ceiling of the Sala delle Muse, built by Simonetti on commission from Pius VI	Floor of a nearby gallery Floor of a nearby gallery	Long shot of same gallery Long shot of same gallery
Ceiling of the cartography gallery in the Vatican museum Ceiling of the cartography gallery in the Vatican museum			Basilica walls above the Patio of St Gregory the Illuminator, where we waited to go up to the dome of the Basilica. Basilica walls above the Patio of St Gregory the Illuminator, where we waited to go up to the dome of the Basilica.	Plants growing from the walls enclosing the Sistine Chapel. Someone said these are capers. Plants growing from the walls enclosing the Sistine Chapel. Someone said these are capers.
	Dome of the Basilica from the roof Dome of the Basilica from the roof		One of the smaller domes One of the smaller domes	Shot toward the facade of the Basilica from the roof Shot toward the facade of the Basilica from the roof
Main roof of the Basilica Main roof of the Basilica	Basilica Dome from the bacony at the base of the dome Basilica Dome from the bacony at the base of the dome		Mosaics just below the dome Mosaics just below the dome
	Back outside; a shot of the roof of the St. Peter's Square colonade from the roof of the Basilica Back outside; a shot of the roof of the St. Peter's Square colonade from the roof of the Basilica	From the roof of St. Peter's Basilica. Dome at right center is the Basilica of Saints Ambrogio and Carlo al Corso and the building dominating the picture is Palace of Justice, known as the "Big Bad Palace" From the roof of St. Peter's Basilica. Dome at right center is the Basilica of Saints Ambrogio and Carlo al Corso and the building dominating the picture is Palace of Justice, known as the "Big Bad Palace"	From the roof of St. Peter's Basilica. Dome at right center is the Basilica of Saints Ambrogio and Carlo al Corso and the building dominating the picture is Palace of Justice, known as the "Big Bad Palace" From the roof of St. Peter's Basilica. Dome at right center is the Basilica of Saints Ambrogio and Carlo al Corso and the building dominating the picture is Palace of Justice, known as the "Big Bad Palace"	Another view from the roof of the Basilica. Structure in the foreground is Castel Sant'Angelo, right on the Tiber River. Another view from the roof of the Basilica. Structure in the foreground is Castel Sant'Angelo, right on the Tiber River.
Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr. More pictures here. Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr. More pictures here.	Another shot of the Basilica dome from the roof Another shot of the Basilica dome from the roof	The Sacristy and Treasury The Sacristy and Treasury		Basilica atrium ceiling Basilica atrium ceiling
In the Basilica Atrium - Faith (1728-1732) by Giovan Battista de Rossi In the Basilica Atrium - Faith (1728-1732) by Giovan Battista de Rossi	Another shot from the atrium Another shot from the atrium	Andrea and Beth inside of St. Peters Basilica. They were there at the same time Ed was at the Vatican Musuem Andrea and Beth inside of St. Peters Basilica. They were there at the same time Ed was at the Vatican Musuem		One of two holy water fonts commissioned by Pope Benedict XIII from designer Agostino Cornacchini and sculptor Francesco Moderati, (1720s). One of two holy water fonts commissioned by Pope Benedict XIII from designer Agostino Cornacchini and sculptor Francesco Moderati, (1720s).
First of a series of shots inside St. Peter's Basilica. This is taken from near the entrance to the church. First of a series of shots inside St. Peter's Basilica. This is taken from near the entrance to the church.


			Lots of opportunities to confess Lots of opportunities to confess	Shot of Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica. Photo by Stanislov Traykov 4 December 2005. LIcensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Shot of Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica. Photo by Stanislov Traykov 4 December 2005. LIcensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
		Statue of St. Peter sculpted from 1838-1840 by the Venetian sculptor Giuseppe De Fabris Statue of St. Peter sculpted from 1838-1840 by the Venetian sculptor Giuseppe De Fabris	In his right hand, St. Peter is holding the keys, symbol of the power promised to him by Christ in Caesarea of Philippi In his right hand, St. Peter is holding the keys, symbol of the power promised to him by Christ in Caesarea of Philippi	Beth's shot of the Bernini's colonnade Beth's shot of the Bernini's colonnade
		Evening out to dinner and a drive around the city Evening out to dinner and a drive around the city

Quick shot from the bus of maybe the most famous monument in Rome.

We dropped by for a couple of pictures of St. Peter's Basilica at night.

Day 3 - Trastavere, Catacombs