Arrive in Rome and Vatican City Tour

Arrival in Rome from Cairo

Thursday, November 13th is the final day of my trip, a one-day layover in Rome on the way home.

All roads lead to Rome
Rome wasn’t built in a day
When in Rome do like the Romans

Wednesday, I flew from Cairo to Rome and checked into my hotel.

I took an evening walk to see Trevi fountain (pickpocket fountain), and then after dinner to Piazza Colonna, a city square that houses the marble Column of Marcus Aurelius which was erected in AD193. Unfortunately, the column was surrounded by scaffolding.

Dinner

I found the perfect lasagna and red wine for dinner at L’Antica Fraschetta – quite a difference from Egypt food. Later I went for a beer at The Flann O’Brien. I couldn’t decide between two beers (Red Rock vs IPA), so I order a small glass of both:

Breakfast

The hotel breakfast was fantastic too – Europe hotel breakfasts generally much better and healthier than in USA. The small interior room at Il Fascino Di Roma was comfortable.

Vatican City Tour

Thursday morning, I took Metro line A – aka pickpocket Metro – Repubblica to Ottaviano, to Vatican City for a guided tour of the museum, Sistine Chapel and the Basilica. The tour was run by “What a Life Tours” and was excellent.

Leonardo da Vinci spent four years painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling and has been restored to virtually the way it looked 500 years ago. I was not aware that the Basilica was so huge and amazing inside.

Vatican Museum

Sistine Chapel

No photos are allowed in the Sistine Chapel, and you’re warned not to take any photos of the Swiss guards. So, here’s some from the web:

St. Peter’s Basilica

I picked a good time to visit because the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica was opened by the Pope for a Catholic Jubilee year, which occurs every 25 years. The doors are symbolically opened to allow pilgrims to enter and pass through, which is associated with spiritual renewal and receiving plenary indulgences. The most recent Jubilee began in December 2024 with the opening of the Holy Door, and the doors will remain open throughout the 2025 Jubilee year until January 6, 2026.