Looking Up

Basilica di San Pietro, the Catholic Mecca, is truly a place where you feel the power of the Catholic Church. Not only do you feel it, but you see it as well. The huge square outside is one of the few places in the world where I've stood and felt very small. It's easy to see how millions can come here to be inspired.

My friend Jen and I climbed to the top of the cupola, 551 stairs. Yes, that's right--talk about the ultimate stair stepper workout. Basically, when you travel anywhere in Europe forget about wearing heels or boots, buy the cutest, trendiest pair of walking shoes you can find and wear those, 'cause you're gonna be hiking everywhere you go.

So, here's the photo tour...

Piazza di San Pietro. See, I really am small standing there.

La Pieta', one of Michealangelo's master pieces. It's just inside one of the main doors and it's breath taking in its detail and composition. It's one of my favorites. More info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0_(Michelangelo)

This is the dome. It's massive and has the most beautiful detail. One interesting thing about the basilica is that other cathedrals from throughout the world are much smaller than this one. There are plaques in the floor showing the sizes of other cathedrals such as St. Paul's in London or the National Cathedral in DC (at least they were there 7 years ago, I didn't find them this time).

Looking down from about halfway up. The mosaics are amazing and it's not the just the ceiling that that is ornamented but the floor as well in a marble mosaic of symmetry.

The view from the top, looking out over Piazza di San Pietro towards the Tiber River. It was a cold, rainy January day, but it was still very beautiful.

I noticed that I spent a lot of time looking up here. Seems they want you be looking up and contemplating the grandeur of God or the Church. I look up anyway, because ceilings here are just the beginning.