Vatican City

Buongiorno

That’s not our bus

Our Magical Mystery Tour, as our tour director called it, started on day 2 with no coach bus. So the kids got to experience public transportation!

first a very personal bus ride

then a 'watch your bags' metro ride

We couldn't make it to the Catacombs excursion in time. We just had time to grab a panino for lunch and meet our Vatican guide.

Walls of Vatican City

Our guide was great! Funniest art moment is Michaelangelo’s revenge painting in The Last Judgement

Fractured Sphere

Every nook and cranny of the Vatican is incredible!

Belvedere Torso-an inspiration to artists

It’s crazy that these masterpieces were commissioned just to decorate private rooms.

Room of the Segnatura, art by Raphael. Originally a library and private office of the pope.

Our tour got a detour so we got to see this fresco gem by Raphael: The School of Athens

Some papal bling

Nero’s bath and intricate Masonic floor tiles

This tapestry of Jesus’ Resurrection has Him gazing at you any way you look at it

Drama

Gallery of maps leads to Sistene Chapel.
No photos and silence inside. “Silencio”

We stretched our necks to take in the artwork by Muchaelangelo (Creation of Adam!)

Lydia in the Vatican Museum

"World Meeting on Human Fraternity" in St Peter's Square (#NotAlone). We heard music and speeches.

We were supposed to see St Peter’s Basilica, but it was closed to visitors that day.

Assisi

Assisi was a total bonus city since our ferry got delayed, we had time to make this stop.

It is the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi (interestingly, he was known to preach to animals). We got to explore the city built on a hill and then walk through the 2 story basilica. It was quiet, precious and kind of magical, especially with the rain. Oh, great views too!

Pizza and other foods at imonaci Sapporo di primo ordine-so yum!

Piazza 

Abigail was spellbound by the city

Firenze

Guarding our bags at train terminal 

The bullet train was comfortable and had the best scenery of the Italian countryside-I was in love

Dinner at our hotel

Bastien, Ian, Alex, Emerson, Akosh, Corbin

Ethan, Julie, Ben, Leslie, Marjorie, Sophia, Elina, Lydia, Valeria, Abby

Margaret, Senisa, Mr Bloom, Lara, Emma, Sydney, Kendall, Camilla

Spotted walking through Florence 

Just walking through. Statues of famous people in walls.

Neptune's Fountain

This is an exact replica of David where it originally stood in front of the government building in the square. The Galleria Museum is closed on Mondays. The statue is not signed because Michelangelo had made a name for himself already.

Italian Breezy

Ponte Vecchio
Only standing bridge after WW II
With shops

Shops and stuff on Ponte Vecchio

Turn the corner, and bam: baptistery, cathedral, duomo, bell tower

Cathedral with marble facade. Long line to go inside and climb dome.

Gates of Paradise
depicts stories of Bible

Finishing our walking tour from a local guide

Leather talk. Did you know they can layer and form  leather to make a box? 

With our free time, we visited the Galileo Museum.
Lots of instruments, telescopes, and a very interesting obstetrics teaching models. Medici was his patron.

Experiments on movement, inertia

Galileo’s model of the solar system was considered heresy by the Catholic Church, and he was forced to recant his work.

Fountain Face

This shop has the most beautiful classic florentine paper.

Friends on the Arno River

Fun with water fountain 

Fashion pose outside restaurant 

My sweet girl

Our bus driver risked getting a ticket to take us up to the best view of Florence at Piazzale Michelangelo. It was so nice!