Taking a break before the Vatican Museums, a great lunch was enjoyed at the Tripadvisor-recommended Panino Divino, where a sandwich+drink combo will only set you back 5 euros (cheaper than McDonald's and tasted infinitely better).
I'm not a big fan of paninis, but their panino ciro (black pig cheek, caciotta mixed, sun-dried tomatoes, chilli jam) was absolutely delicious. This panini put all the other paninis I've tried before to shame. The bread had just the right amount of crispy and chewy, and combined with the perfect selection of cured meat, cheese, and sauce... my mouth is salivating.
Added bonus: a feeling of superiority as you breeze by these unprepared folks? Priceless.
We were more than half an hour early than the scheduled ticket time but the guards let us in anyways.
For no possible reason other than temporary insanity, we took the spiral ramp up instead of the escalator. Never do this unless the staircase is A) historical or B) beautiful.
In this case, it was neither. And to make matters worse, it's a rectangular spiral which meant even more walking. And the faster you try to escape this spiral of death, the dizzier you got.
Who designed this? Unless you're Michelangelo or equivalent reincarnate, spiral stairway is just not a good idea. Period.
We ended up both tired and dizzy. Not a great way to start a museum visit.
In this case, it was neither. And to make matters worse, it's a rectangular spiral which meant even more walking. And the faster you try to escape this spiral of death, the dizzier you got.
Who designed this? Unless you're Michelangelo or equivalent reincarnate, spiral stairway is just not a good idea. Period.
We ended up both tired and dizzy. Not a great way to start a museum visit.
Since I knew we would be visiting Hadrian's villa later in the trip, this display "Reconstruction of the Canopus of Hadrian's Villa" in the Gregorian Egyptian Museum was of particular interest.
These are the original statues removed from the villa and have been displayed in the relative grouping and orientation as they would have been in the Serapeum and Canopus of Hadrian's Villa.
The Gregorian Egyptian Museum
Assyrian Relief of Eagle-headed Genius(?) Worshiping Sacred Tree
After the Louvre, it's starting to bother me more and more that Middle Eastern history and antiquities don't seem to get the same popular culture recognition as their Egyptian contemporaries.
Most people are probably familiar with the names Tutakhamun, Ramses, Seti, Cleopatra, and Nefertiri. But how many can name an ancient king/queen from the middle east? I know I can't.
And that's sad, because the ancient middle eastern artifacts are just as amazing and sophisticated, if not more so, as the ones from ancient Egypt.
Especially now, with the destruction of ancient cities Mosul, Hatra and Nimrud, we'll never be able to experience those ruins in person, making these pieces even more precious.
Cortile Ottagano ("Octogonal Court")
Sadly, my favourite rooms with all the creature marbles - Sala degli Animali - were closed for reasons unknown. I was hoping to see Mr. Crab again.
Something new - The Belvedere Torso. Reminds me of The Thinker by Rodin. Shouldn't be too surprising, since according to the description plaque, this statue has served as inspirations for many an artist.Thought to be of Ajax.
We might have a Venus di Milo situation here, where a statue looks better minus limbs.
Sala Rotunda ("Round Room")
Sala della Biga ("Room of the Chariot") - alas, still closed
Hall of Tapestries
Hall of Maps
Apologies for the lackluster photos. By this point, I got separated from my travel companions and in my slightly frantic search, wasn't really in the mood to admire or take photos.
We were supposed to meet up beforehand to enter the long, crowded hallways leading to the Sistine Chapel together (so we could utilize the secret exit). Well, you know what they say about plans. Thinking the two of them might have been swept up by the crowd and hoping against hope that the two of them did not get separated, I jumped into the river of people and started the arduous trek to the Michelangelo's masterpiece.
Raphael's School of Athens
Armory Cupboards
After a very difficult loop around the Sistine Chapel (gah, the crowds - how could anyone enjoy the ceiling with so much noise?) and not finding my travel companions, I headed back towards our designated meeting place - The Courtyard of the Pine Cone, praying that they were smart enough not to follow the crowd out the museum exit.I had a near panic attack when I saw only one of them sitting by our designated meeting place - the golden "Sphere Within a Sphere."
Scenarios started to run rampant through my head.
And then the other person - sitting on a bench farther away because it was shaded - popped into view and finally, a breath of relief.
So lesson? Always ALWAYS designate a just-in-case meeting point. And make sure everyone has a map.
Though we didn't get to take advantage of the "not-so-secret" shortcut, we did get to walk down the famous spiral staircase this time. Everything worked out, kind of.While making my way down the stairs, I kept fantasizing about a giant pinball appearing and rolling down, a la Indiana Jones. Weird right?
Post-script:
The funny (but not haha-funny) thing is that my travel companions didn't even see the famous ceiling. They were ushered right through the chapel without looking up, although they did see a lot of people looking up.
Life lesson: when you see other people stopping and looking up, LOOK UP.
I've made them promise to tell everyone who ask that they did, in fact, see the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Because otherwise, it'd just be too ridiculous.
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