Back in October and November we did do quite a lot of sightseeing and have got the multitude of pictures to prove it. But we completely failed to post anything. Of course many of the pix are better seen in commercial photos on line or in the books - our skills (and equipment) will not really do justice to the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Forum or the astonishing Sistine Chapel. And you can read all about those is many different places.
The Vatican Museums, of which the Chapel is but one, shining part, are enormous. The acquisitiveness of the Renaissance Popes, their wealth and patronage, creates an extraordinary set of collections. For any sailors, the Gallery of Maps is particularly fascinating. Between 1580 and 1583, Pope Gregory XIII had 40 detailed maps created of the Papal empire, painted on the walls of a 'corridor' that is 175m long and 6m wide, by the friar and geographer Ignazio Danti. Essentially, the pope's possessions were Italy and parts of France, and so each large section of the wall shows one region, with a large inset of its major city. To one side of the room is the western coast, and to the other is the eastern. At each end there are specific pictures which hark back to the classical empire, further emphasising the Papal claims to succession to that power.
The ceiling too has amazing frescoes, illustrating events which took place in the regions shown on the panels.
The picture above is, we think (but can't be absolutely certain) Genoa as it then was, with big curved sea walls. If anyone can correct us, please do! As you can see the maps are decorated with detailed pictures of vessels, and elsewhere with wind roses.
We recommend the Map Room to anyone interested in navigation and history. But don't miss out on the great monuments, or the Chapel and the Raphael Rooms within the Vatican.