Christmas in Rome, Part 2

No visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to Vatican City.  As the smallest country in the world, Vatican City is a tiny enclave surrounded by the greater city of Rome.  We spent the first half of our day in the Vatican Museum, which houses the works of art that have been collected by Popes over the centuries.

We have learned that everyone in the family enjoys museums best with an audio guide.  We've been really impressed at the child-specific audio tours that we've found over the past year and a half, and the Vatican Museum was no exception.  The kids' tour included a scavenger hunt with kid-friendly information about specific works of art.  The boys loved it and made sure we found each and every stop on their hunt.

Even the walls and ceilings of the museum themselves were spectacular.  This picture doesn't do this ceiling justice, but it gives an idea of how ornate the museum was.  The walls of this room were painted with enormous maps of different parts of Italy.

The most famous room in the Vatican Museum is the Sistine Chapel, which is an absolute highlight.  We walked in and Emmett's jaw dropped and he literally said, "Wow".  Pictures aren't allowed, and any we might have taken could never capture the beauty of that room.  It is an incredible work of art.

After the Vatican Museum, we walked into Saint Peter's Square.  It was decorated with a large Nativity scene and a Christmas tree.

Inside the Basilica, we admired the beautiful architecture and art and saw everything being readied for the Christmas mass.

We also listened to a children's choir practicing, which made the surroundings even more beautiful.

With the Christmas holiday approaching, it was a beautiful time to visit the Vatican!