Up to Rome - November 26th-30th 2010

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November 29th 2010: The Vatican, Saint Peter's, and more


Page 3 of 4.
Click on images below to enlarge:
I took this picture looking obliquely down the hallway at the side of the nave in hopes that the vastness of the columns and statues and minuscule size of the people would give an impression of the size of the space.
One of the many grand statues in an alcove.
The baroque Baldacchino, designed by Bernini.
Another panoramic movie, this one taken from near the Baldacchino, showing both it, the transepts, and the central dome.
I took this picture looking obliquely down the hallway at the side of the nave in hopes that the vastness of the columns and statues and minuscule size of the people would give an impression of the size of the space.
One of the many grand statues in an alcove.
The baroque Baldacchino, designed by Bernini.
Another panoramic movie, this one taken from near the Baldacchino, showing both it, the transepts, and the central dome.
Look at the variously colored marble in the floor. This picture is also meant to capture the grand scale of the space. I think it does a good job at it.
Fancy covers over the under-floor heating vents.
Lights in Saint Peter's Basilica are shaped like crosses (well, pluses).
Speakers are camouflaged to blend in with the color of the marble.
Look at the variously colored marble in the floor.
This picture is also meant to capture the grand scale of the space. I think it does a good job at it.
Fancy covers over the under-floor heating vents.
Lights in Saint Peter's Basilica are shaped like crosses (well, pluses).
Speakers are camouflaged to blend in with the color of the marble.
No Picture Associated With These Comments
Looking down Via D. Conciliazione, the road that runs to Saint Peter's. (I took this picture on our way out.) Note the many columns.
There are many tombs of popes scattered around in the basilica. We didn't go underneath the basilica where I'm told there are even more.
Looking down Via D. Conciliazione, the road that runs to Saint Peter's. (I took this picture on our way out.) Note the many columns.
More Rome
Looking down the River Tevere toward the Ponte Principe Amedeo bridge.
The bridge Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, which leads to Saint Peter's Basilica, has many statues.
One of Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II's statues.
Castel Sant'Angelo as seen above Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II bridge. It was originally Roman Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum but has been a fortress owned by the pope for about the last fifteen hundred years. Artificially brightened.
Looking down the River Tevere toward the Ponte Principe Amedeo bridge.
The bridge Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, which leads to Saint Peter's Basilica, has many statues.
One of Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II's statues.
Castel Sant'Angelo as seen above Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II bridge. It was originally Roman Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum but has been a fortress owned by the pope for about the last fifteen hundred years.
Artificially brightened.
A leafy sidewalk along the street Lungotevere dei Tebaldi.
A flock of black birds wheeled around the sky around dusk.
A video of the birds swarming. It's mesmerizing. Ah, emergent behavior.
In Piazza Farnese, the Church of Santa Brigida and a fountain.
A leafy sidewalk along the street Lungotevere dei Tebaldi.
A flock of black birds wheeled around the sky around dusk.
A video of the birds swarming. It's mesmerizing.
Ah, emergent behavior.
In Piazza Farnese, the Church of Santa Brigida and a fountain.
Palazzo della Cancelleria has a traditional Mediterranean courtyard. I like the model of Leonardo's flying device. (The palazzo was the site of an exhibit on da Vinci's machines, but the exhibit was closed when I was there.) By the way, though not geographically within the Vatican, the building is considered to be Vatican territory. Artificially brightened.
Il Fornaio, near Campo de'Fiori. was an intriguing bakery with many tempting goods.
One window filled with goodies, through which one sees a cabinet with many shelves of more goodies, behind which are shelves of bread.
Right to left: bocconcini al pistacchio (pistachio) - great! Moist, chewy, and with a perfect pistachio flavor. I think this is the flavor people want when they when they add pistachio or pistachio syrup to foods. bocconcini del nonno (almond) - the almond version. We liked the lemon zest in this one. pinolate - a good, chewy cookie with pine nuts.
Palazzo della Cancelleria has a traditional Mediterranean courtyard. I like the model of Leonardo's flying device. (The palazzo was the site of an exhibit on da Vinci's machines, but the exhibit was closed when I was there.)
By the way, though not geographically within the Vatican, the building is considered to be Vatican territory.
Artificially brightened.
Il Fornaio, near Campo de'Fiori. was an intriguing bakery with many tempting goods.
One window filled with goodies, through which one sees a cabinet with many shelves of more goodies, behind which are shelves of bread.
Right to left:
  • bocconcini al pistacchio (pistachio) - great! Moist, chewy, and with a perfect pistachio flavor. I think this is the flavor people want when they when they add pistachio or pistachio syrup to foods.
  • bocconcini del nonno (almond) - the almond version. We liked the lemon zest in this one.
  • pinolate - a good, chewy cookie with pine nuts.
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We liked the cookies so much, we bought more for later. I took this picture when we ate these back at home in London. Clockwise from left: napolitani - Surprisingly heavy in weight. A dense pastry filled with chocolate, like a cross between chocolate cake and a chocolate bar. The chocolate was a bit crumbly, but I still needed to use my teeth. hazelnut cookie - good taste with a crunchy texture. don't remember
The inside of the napolitani.
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The baker at the counter made us try a ricotta torte with chocolate chips. Ricotta tortes are a Roman specialty. We decided not to buy it however, as I wasn't in the mood for chocolate chips.
We liked the cookies so much, we bought more for later. I took this picture when we ate these back at home in London. Clockwise from left:
  • napolitani - Surprisingly heavy in weight. A dense pastry filled with chocolate, like a cross between chocolate cake and a chocolate bar. The chocolate was a bit crumbly, but I still needed to use my teeth.
  • hazelnut cookie - good taste with a crunchy texture.
  • don't remember
The inside of the napolitani.
We also had a cookie that was very lemony on the inside. Di Yin didn't like it, but I was fine with it.
All the restaurants on the plaza Campo de'Fiori are lit by and warmed by flames like these. Artificially brightened.
The Santa Barbara church in the compact Largo dei Librari. Artificially brightened.
A picture to prove I wandered through the Jewish quarter. I'm amused the only person dining here is Asian. Artificially brightened.
Old temples in Largo Argentina. Artificially brightened.
All the restaurants on the plaza Campo de'Fiori are lit by and warmed by flames like these.
Artificially brightened.
The Santa Barbara church in the compact Largo dei Librari.
Artificially brightened.
A picture to prove I wandered through the Jewish quarter. I'm amused the only person dining here is Asian.
Artificially brightened.
Old temples in Largo Argentina.
Artificially brightened.
I think this is the oldest temple in the ruins, dating from the 3rd century B.C.E. Artificially brightened.
Somewhere in these ruins was the old Roman senate building (I can't remember where the sign said it was) where Caesar was assassinated. Artificially brightened.
Priest clothing for sale on Via dei Cestari by Via della Pigna.
I think this is the oldest temple in the ruins, dating from the 3rd century B.C.E.
Artificially brightened.
Somewhere in these ruins was the old Roman senate building (I can't remember where the sign said it was) where Caesar was assassinated.
Artificially brightened.
Priest clothing for sale on Via dei Cestari by Via della Pigna.
Dinner at Alessio Ristoranti
We selected this restaurant, Alessio Ristoranti, entered through an understated door on an otherwise blank, unpromising wall.
Though empty on this night (a Monday), it was packed when walked by Friday night. (That's why we considered the place for dinner this night.)
This was the first time in Rome that we had focaccia as our table bread. It was very good, accented with sea salt, olive oil, and rosemary.
Jewish-style artichoke. The outside tasted like artichoke chips (a la potato chips). It crackled like crazy as we ate it. The heart was just like steamed artichoke hearts.
We selected this restaurant, Alessio Ristoranti, entered through an understated door on an otherwise blank, unpromising wall.
Though empty on this night (a Monday), it was packed when walked by Friday night. (That's why we considered the place for dinner this night.)
This was the first time in Rome that we had focaccia as our table bread. It was very good, accented with sea salt, olive oil, and rosemary.
Jewish-style artichoke. The outside tasted like artichoke chips (a la potato chips). It crackled like crazy as we ate it. The heart was just like steamed artichoke hearts.