渡: February 2008

Saint Peter's Basilica. One day before we went there, the Pope gave a new year speech on the central balcony.

You see the building behind the corridor? That is where the Pope lives. The window at the upper-left corner is in his bedroom, and the window by it leads to his study.

The obelisk was originally from Egypt. Think of how much it has witnessed: the rise and fall the pharaohs, and slaughter of the Christians in Rome Empire, and election and death of the Popes, and the visiting of me!

At the boarder of Italy, waiting to enter Vatican City. After the security check, it is the land of the Holy See. It is the first country I went to which does not have a diplomatic relationship with China.

The guard of the Vatican City. Michelangelo is known as a great sculptor, a painter, an architect... basically, a universal man. So what can prevent a universal man from being a fashion designer? Nothing! Here you see the Michelangelo's only piece of fashion design: the guards' uniforms (or costumes).

The famous Pieta (pity), also by Michelangelo. It is a superb piece of work. Look at the sadness in her eyes, the confusion and resignation shown by the gesture of her hand... I don't think it's a sculpture about religion, but more about love, about relationship, about a sad mom and her dead son. I don't want to think of how many moms are making the same gestures and suffering from the same pain even nowadays. Some "human version pieta" are demonstrated in the news photos taken in Gaza, Jerusalem, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya, and many more places..

This is the only work by Michelangelo which carries his signature. You see the reflection of window? Yes, there is a protective glass box around this sculpture. It was installed after a mad man one day brought an axe into the basilica and attempted to destroy this masterpiece.

About the size of the Saint Peter's, I like the description from a tourist guide book "To say it's vast is like saying God is smart." This is the famous canopy with revolving columns by Bernini. It is actually of the height of 7 floors, but one hardly feels so in front of it. In front of such magnificence, a not so graceful question came into my mind: "It cost hugely. How did the curia have so much money?" Bank financing, maybe a portion of it, but more importantly as I believe, the money was from the taxes charged for various reasons. Hmm...

After about 40 minute's waiting, we get onto the dome. It is still inside, and the canopy is right below us.

I like the frescoes up there. They are huge, but they look tiny when viewed by someone standing by the canopy.

Here is the way going up to the top of the dome. You could feel the curve of the dome when walking there. Cupola means dome. I find this picture a bit funny, because this arrow was just pointing to the "dome" on the head of the that bald man. Hehe... I am bad :-P

Most people stop there when they reach the peak of the dome, but I went a step even higher. See where I was standing :-) 正所谓：“会当临绝顶，一览众山小”，但是“欲穷千里目”还要“更上一层楼”呀！

我得意地笑~

What a scene there! The Piazza di San Pietro was designed by Bernini. It mimics the open arm of the catholics welcoming people from different religion.