A genuine miracle of divine Holy radiance

Touched by the refulgence of the Holy Spirit.

At St. Peter’s Basilica.

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St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome

Yesterday, we visited St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome.

The experience of walking through St. Peter’s is the closest thing to being in heaven. It’s hard to convey the sheer immensity and majesty of St. Peter’s. 

Walking through St. Peter’s, you can feel the Catholic Church of the 17th century conveying it’s belief that it, and only it, can lay claim as representatives of God on Earth. Especially, after the sack of Rome in the early 16th century and rapid expansion of the Reformation throughout Northern Europe.

The Catholic Church’s Counter-Reformation is the entire reason that St. Peter’s is so overwhelming: full of power and emotion, action, and meticulous detail. It’s the Baroque; and St. Peter’s is the acme of Baroque architecture: striking, golden, and extravagant with no reservations.

Below are some of the photos I took on the day.

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The Nave of St. Peter’s

Pure breathtaking magic.

The nave was decorated by Bernini who was commissioned by Pope Innocent 10th in 1645. But, it was designed and built mostly by Carlo Maderno. It’s full construction spanned over a hundred years and included contributions from architects like Bramante and Michelangelo.

I tried to take some photos with people to give an impression of height. It is 45-46 meters tall.

Sense of perspective. 

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The façade of St. Peter’s Basilica

The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Hello bloggers,

Greetings from Rome again. 🇮🇹

After the Colosseum visit, Marcelo and I then visited the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

The Roman Forum is a beautiful squared plaza surrounded by ancient Roman ruins of a bustling Roman city. The Palatine Hill overlooks it as one of the seven hills of Rome.

Below are some of the photos I took.

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Ruins on Palatine Hill

Birds bathing in the pools.

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The view of the Colosseum from the Palatine Hill

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The Basilica of Santa Francesca Romana

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The Domus Tiberiana on the Palatine

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The village of Carinas

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The Antoninus and Faustina Temple.   An Incredible spot of architectural beauty. 

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The Portico of Gaius and Lucius

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The Temple of Romulus

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The Roman art of Opus Sectile (inlay on walls or floors which create patterns)

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The Arch of Septimius Severus

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The Temple of Saturn

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The Temple of Castor and Pollux

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Across the Forum

The Vatican Museum, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel

We visited the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel yesterday.

It was a beautiful day.

Below are some of the photos I took. 

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Entry onto Viale Vaticano, Entrance to the Vatican Museum

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The Vatican walls

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The Side Entrance

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The Bramante Staircase   (love sublime stairs)

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The main entryway (with Vatican seal on the ceiling) - simply exquisite.

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Roman statue of Hypnos, God of sleep

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Boy Strangling a Goose, Roman copy of a Greek statue

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Statute of Diana, the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and wild animals.

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The Gallery of Tapestries    (huge ornate works of art)

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The Scuola Nuova tapestry series

The tapestry series cover episodes from the life of Christ. This particular one represents the encounter between the risen Christ and the weeping Mary Magdalene near the tomb. 

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The Gallery of Geographical Maps  (a breathtaking corridor)

To my blogger friends ... greetings from Rome’s Colosseum

Hello everyone,

I’m now in Rome (since yesterday) for a week with my sweetheart. As part of a 2 week Italy trip.

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Early this morning , Marcelo and I visited the Basilica of Saint John Lateran (the oldest public church in Rome).

They let me into the Basilica with shorts on!!!

The fresco dome of the Byzantine tradition.

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I’ve been in Ostia (seaside town 30mins away from Rome) for the past week.

I’m off to the Vatican Museum tomorrow.

The National Gallery rehang – pure bliss

Some weeks ago, I finally visited the much anticipated debut of the Sainsbury Wing of London’s National Gallery.

I found it exhilarating.

I walked from room to room bursting with excitement about what I was going to find on the walls. 

The corridors and rooms are fabulously curated with easily-discernible themes and ideas. The architecture and design lend a stately aesthetic to the museum’s prized works.

I must admit I was a little overwhelmed at one point – how lucky to live close to such beauty & treasures which are free to the public. I always tell people that if they’re feeling down or depressed, the National Gallery is a beautiful refuge to forget the outside world.

Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★

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Me at Trafalgar Square with my Van Gogh t-shirt.

London’s National Gallery embellishing with beautiful fountains.

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The Sainsbury Wing’s neoclassical entrance of the National Gallery.

The museum’s repository of early Renaissance paintings.

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The main foyer at the Sainsbury Entrance.

The muted light-coloured stone flooring gives it an elegant and spacious feel.

 

A gift shop, help desk and stairs to the main gallery.

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Palatial staircase to the main galleries.