I did it. I climbed to the top of the dome in St. Peter’s Basilica. Given my claustrophobia, and the fact that the 321 stairs were barely wide enough for one person as they twisted up corkscrew-style (at the very top, there is a rope to help you up the final set of stairs), it was quite a feat.
But my day started well before my dome climb. I had decided to book a “Pristine Sistine” tour with Walks of Italy, because the tour goes immediately to the Sistine Chapel before the doors open to the general public, and then backtracks to see the highlights of the rest of the museum. I figured I’d get more out of a guided tour than I would on my own (there are over 20,000 pieces of art on display in the museums’ 1400 rooms!). And given the number of people crowded into the Sistine Chapel when we passed through a couple of hours later, I’d say it was a good call. Now is probably a good time to mention that I have either a cold or very bad allergies (the verdict is still out). To top it off, I only slept for about 4 hours last night, so the 7AM meeting time was already pushing it. My headset only partly worked, so I didn’t get to hear all of the commentary on the tour and I probably didn’t appreciate what I was seeing as much as I would have if I felt better. Nevertheless, seeing the Sistine Chapel in person was another once in a lifetime experience. After the tour, I took a quick walk through the crypt before climbing the dome. I rationalized taking the elevator part of the way up due to my lack of sleep and cold/allergies. From the top you have a 360 degree view of Rome and its seven hills as well as a bird’s-eye view of St. Peter’s Square.
I knew this afternoon would need to be low-key, so I wandered away from the Vatican and towards the Centro Storico (Historic District) in search of food. I initially wanted a snack, but decided I might not feel like a big dinner tonight and opted for pizza instead. I ended up at an outdoor restaurant in the middle of Piazza San Lorenzo, which was good for people watching, though the pizza was nothing special. I stopped for the requisite picture of the Spanish Steps before heading back to my hotel. “Dinner” tonight was at Prosciutteria Cantina dei Papi, a little prosciutteria serving small plates and charcuterie boards. I sat in a corner enjoying a small board with a spread of fruits, meats, cheese, a bowl of bread, and a glass of Prosecco. I topped it off with overpriced, lackluster gelato from a nearby gelateria which I ate sitting by the Trevi Fountain.
Traveling with Laura 