Roma Day two started early with a trip across the Tiber River to the Vatican. The line for St. Peter's Basilica was just forming up good, so we were able to get in the massive ( and when I say massive, know that I am very much understating the size of this place) church. The halls were ornate with the statues, and tombs of popes long passed. There were even three glass coffin's containing the remains of three popes on display. While I consider it a bit on the macabre side of things, it was interesting to see the former leaders ( who all passed on long before I was even a thought) of the Catholic faith up close and personal. After finishing our tour of the basilica, (which was brief and limited due to mass being performed at the main alter that day), we scouted out the entrance to the Vatican museum, for our reserved visit scheduled on the next and final day in Roma. We made our way down the road from St. Peter's square to the beautiful Castel Sant' Angelo. I got some decent ( as great as I was gonna get with the crowd that day) shots from the Ponte Sant' Angelo, and the ancient fortress itself afforded some beautiful views from the upper walkways, and it's library. After a sweltering morning on the other side of the Tiber, we crossed back over near the Spanish Steps, and grabbed lunch before visiting the Trevi Fountain ( which unfortunately was undergoing renovation at the time so there wasn't much to see), and the resplendent Pantheon. As luck would have it there was a choir present that was serenading the crowd with Gothic hymns at the alter. With their voices resounding, the choir made it an unforgettable experience. After the Pantheon, our group split, and I left to hunt for the tomb of Alexander VI ( Spanish Born 16th Century Pope, Rodrigo Borgia). You won't see the church marked on city maps, or really read about it in guide books, but Alexander VI( one of the most infamous Renaissance popes mind you), is tucked away buried in a quite little church on the side of the Tiber opposite the Vatican. While I did track down the church, I hit a dead end in the fact that the church is observing prayer for the month of August, and not allowing visitors. Happy to have found the church, but a bit disheartened at not being able to see the tomb with my own eyes, I beat a path back for the hotel and the rest of the group. We had a hearty dinner, and every one turned in early as we prepped for our final day in Roma.
