Our Adventures in Rome, Italy - Part 2

This is Part 2 of our tour within the Vatican City

Below is one of many really huge tapestries that were hanging on the walls in the museums hallways

The Liberation of St Peter is a fresco painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio Da Urbino) and his assistant Giulio Romano. It was painted in 1514 as part of Raphael's commission to decorate with frescoes the rooms that are now known as the Stanze di Raffaello, in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. It is located in the Stanza di Eliodoro, which is named after The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple. The painting shows how Saint Peter was liberated from Herod's prison by an angel.

  

The Pieta : The Pity (1498–1499) is a work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist.  It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed. This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion

  

The beauty of St. Peter's Basilica

The Holy Door or 'Porta Sancta' is only open during a Holy Year (Jubilee), which occur every 25 years (the last one in 2000). On the first day of a holy year, the Pope strikes the brick wall with a silver hammer and opens it to the pilgrims. The message imparted by the Holy Door is that God's mercy reaches out to mankind's frailty. This door is also called the "Door of the Great Pardon". Its panels portray scenes of man's sin and his redemption through God's mercy

Below is the St. Peter's Basilica balcony where the new Pope is revealed

One of the fountains in St. Peter's Square

St. Peter's Square

 A Vatican guard

Additional views from St. Peter's Square

This concluded our tour within the Vatican City, the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. Unfortunately no photography was allowed within the Sistine Chapel. I did see at least one person discretely hiding her phone while walking around taking photos. Out of respect I wasn't going to do it. 

This ends Part 2 of our Rome and Florence adventure.