Give Me an "M"

Give me an "M" for Michelangelo.  He steals the show at the Vatican. 

Of course this is no surprise, but for first-timers, like my husband, walking through the Vatican Museums leaves one wondering how the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica can top the seven kilometers (4.35 miles) of art and architecture that lead to two of Big M's most important and famous works.

But, impress it does.  Even Abby and Reese gazed up in awe. 

There's no photos and no talking in the Sistine Chapel.  Only meditative quiet and appreciation.  Below are few shots I pulled off the internet.

I could go deep on this topic, but I won't.  Too much for this non-art historian and this little blog.  But, it's fascinating.  Michelangelo is fascinating, and a brilliant light in the history of mankind. Each time I learn more about him, I feel bathed in that light.  And craving a little more.

The crowds in the rest of the museums area didn't really make it easy to take photos, so the best I could do was capture St. Peter's Basilica, where the scale is SO big that no crowd could put a dent in a few photos ops. 

We went to the top and we went to the bottom. 

Michelangelo was hand selected and commissioned to be the master architect, artist, and sculptor when he was in his 70's.  It was his last project.

Michelangelo's dome, above.  Bernini's baldacchino below.  It's the largest dome in the world, even today.

To the top:

Did you know that Vatican City is its own country?  A country within a city.  Seriously.  Only thing like it in the world.  Gave us a chance to add another flag to our collection.

And send postcards with another country's stamp: