What an amazing day! On our quest for art both ancient and new Kurt and I set off for the Vatican Museums. We met Maria our private guide and she took us on an unbelievable journey back in time as we looked at some of the most ancient and influential art known around the world today. We looked at countless Roman sculptures, tapestries, and painted frescos. We saw the artwork of the master’s like Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini. We were in awe of the Sistine Chapel, and amazed by the grandeur of the Basilica. We were told that because of the size of the museums we wouldn’t be able to see (even close) to everything. While we didn’t get to see much in the means of glass, we couldn’t believe all of the ancient treasures that were laid out in front of us. Because of the history of the city, they can’t dig into the ground without uncovering a new site to excavate. So there is such a wealth of art (mostly sculpture) that has been found, and at the same time, much left undiscovered. Interestingly, Maria talked to us about the difficulty modern art has in the current Roma art scene. That the city still prefers the baroque style of its past to most new and contemporary works. Hands down, the experience of visiting the Vatican Museums was made by our guide Maria, who earned her Art History PhD while studying in the Vatican libraries and museums. Thank you, Maria!
