The last destination on my trip was Rome, by far my favorite place in all of Italy. If you only have one place to go to in Italy, this is it. There's so much history, attractions, great food and great people in this city.
The first stop in Rome was my hotel, Hotel Adriano. I was so beat from the 5 hour train ride from Naples.
The next morning, I got up to do sightseeing and photography like every other tourist.
I took the city's subway to get my first major attraction, the Vatican. Unlike NYC subway stations, Rome's subway cars are bombed with grafitti.
The Basilica di San Pietro in Vatican City is by far the most magnificient church I've ever seen. I've shot amazing weddings in all of the most beautiful churches in NYC, but nothing compares to this.
The sentry guards outside the entrance.
When you step inside, you should be ready with a wide angle lens. Wide angle lens lovers are in paradise here.
Every inch of the church is filled with exquiste details; arches, sculptures, moldings, marble pillars, gorgeous paintings, ceiling decor, etc. You could spend days after days just absorbed in vast stretches of art decor in here. It never seems to end.
After the Basilica, I headed over to the Vatican Museum that houses the Sistine Chapel. This pic is of the entranceway leading into the museum.
One of my favorite paintings in the museum (there were so many that its hard to have favorites).
Every room in the museum is adorned with beautiful frescos.
The Raphael Salon Room. It houses some of the most important fresco paintings done by the great master.
A close up.
Inside the Sistine Chapel. Michaelangelo's masterpiece is something that every people should witness at least once in their lives.
A close up.
The last exhibit on the way out was the the "Lacoon" sculpture. It is one of the oldest sculptures of beauty and realism (1 century B.C.) and was a huge influence on many of Italy's greatest sculptors such as Donetello, Michaelanglo, and Bernini.
Outside the Vatican, there were mimes looking to entertain and make money. Here's a mime painted in gold imitating an old school cameraman. I found it amusing and gave him 2 euros.
There's so many gorgeous churches in Rome. Literally every block has a church and all of them house some of the most beautiful art known in history. I spent a whole day traveling from one church to another just looking at the art and architechture. In the times of the renaissance, painters and sculptors did their best work in churches.
A gorgeous church sculpture by Bernini.
A beautiful church painting by Caravaggio.
The Pantheon. It is the only building from ancient Roman times that is still intact. It is also where Raphael's tomb was discovered.
The Spanish Steps.
At the top of the steps, you get an amazing view of Rome.
In Rome, there's lingerie shops on every block with gorgeous Italian designer lingerie that you can't get in NYC. Of course I shopped for some sexy stuff.
They get American movies but with subtitles.
The last part of my Rome trip and vacation was Ancient Rome and the Colosseum.
The Colosseum.
