This fine Saturday morning, we returned to St. Peter’s Basillica (and we didn’t climb 28 stories of stairs). This was the morning that we finally saw one of the most recognizable pieces of sculpture, one that happened to be Michelangelo’s big break. Christ is laying in the shape of an S on Mary’s lap, something the viewer unconsciously connects to. An S shape will provoke either happiness or sadness, and in this case, sadness. Jill, our tour guide, explained the three contradictions of the work: there is passion, but calmness; pain, yet tranquility; and sorrow, but peace. Michelangelo was conveying so many emotions with this one sculpture, and that is what made him popular: his ability to connect with the viewer.
To finally see this incredible piece of marble in real life was absolutely breathtaking. I have seen so many pictures in textbooks, that it didn’t feel real to be there taking pictures of it, surrounded by dozens of other tourists doing the same thing. To know that it started out as a piece of marble, and was transformed into this masterpiece gives me chills.
After our trip to St. Peter’s, we visited Castel San Angelo, right down the road! It was originally built as a mausoleum (fancy name for burial place) for Hadrian, but has also been used as a fortress and place of safety by Popes and members of royalty, and is now a museum. We had lunch on the rooftop area, and ate while looking out on the city of Rome. That is also the last we saw of Jill, she had to go greet a group of Canadians. I will miss her, and learning so much from our travels together, but I am so grateful for having the opportunity to meet Jill.
*The Next Day (Sunday)*
Viva Fiorenze! Today we went to Florence, Italy! We woke up an hour and a half earlier than usual so we could get to our train. This was my first time traveling by speed-train, and it was so comfortable! Going through all the hills made my ears pop, so those parts were a bit less fun… but it was exciting, nonetheless!
Molly was our tour guide today, as she is studying Art History at Syracuse University there! She is super sweet, and like Jill, knows so much about her city! Florence is beautiful, and much smaller than Rome. One of the first things you notice is the huge dome in the distance. That would be the one and only Duoma, constructed by Filippo Brunelleschi! I can’t count how many times I have read about this dome, nor the number of documentaries I have seen about the study of this dome, so (like basically everything else) to see it in person was astonishing. It is so prominent and beautiful, you can’t help but stare! I was really eager to climb the steps (despite past complaints) because then I would see what Florence looks like from the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome, but they had it closed. I’m not surprised, from what I have learned about it, there are some structural problems coming to light, and maintenance is essential if we want to continue enjoying its beauty.