San Pietro

Today was a short, but very glorious day.  My Socratic Sandals group met with professor Golden at 8:30 a.m.  We met at a small piazza to the South of the Piazza Navonna.  We were given a short talk about a statue that is found here and then we began our way to the Vatican City.  Professor Golden led us on a route that would be similar to the route that pilgrims to the Holy City would have taken in ancient times.

We crossed the Ponte Sant'Angelo, which is an ancient bridge that is almost 2,000-years-old!  This bridge is lined with angels that depict different aspects of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  We stopped briefly at the Castel Sant'Angelo.  Professor Golden talked about the history of this round fortress.

Finally, we made our way to the Vatican City.  I had not yet visited the Vatican City since arriving in Rome.  I'm glad I did not do this, because the explanations that Professor Golden made the whole experience even more exciting.  We entered Saint Peter's after passing through security and waiting in a short queue.  The interior of Saint Peter's was just unexplainable.  The detail and scale of everything was so immense that it didn't seem like it was as large as it really was.  Professor Golden said that the Statue of Liberty would fit inside the dome of the church!  It didn't seem like it, but when I stood outside it made sense.  We completed quick sketching and then I had the afternoon free for whatever I wanted to do.  I ended up watching Angels and Demons and then going into the city to visit a bonsai shop.  It was nice to just take the day easy.