The Rome of Dan Brown

I'm afraid I probably bore Harmon with my endless references to Dan Browns novels. Angels and Demons, set in Rome and Vatican City, is just too brilliantly suspenseful, educational, and well-written to be forgotten. I had to visit as many sites from the book as possible!!! 

I did my own "Path of Illumination" Tour!

1. The Pantheon

Apparently feeling quite in love at the Pantheon... Enjoying the oculus, the perfectly spherical dome, and of course the tomb of Raphael. 

2. Santa Maria del Popoli

 

Unfortunately we got here after closing and were unable to go inside and see "Habakkuk and the Angel" from the book. Site of the first cardinal's death in the book.

3. St. Peter's Square

Don't forget the "West Ponente" tile at the base of the obelisk. We couldn't quite  get close enough. Site of the second cardinal's death.

4. Santa Maria della Vittoria

Didn't make it here...... Site of the third cardinal's death.

5. Piazza Navona

 

The Fountain of the Four Rivers in front of Sr. Agnes in Agony. The site of the last cardinal's death. 

6. Castel Sant'Angelo

All the "angels" point here, where "Il Paseto" links this fortress with the Vatican. Final throw down between the assassin and Robert Langdon is here.

7. St Peter's Basilica

You can see the dome of the basilica. Peter's tomb is said to be underneath the basilica. 

8. Sistine Chapel

That's as close to a picture inside the Cappella Sistina as we were allowed...pretty fantastic!!!

And the rest of our Vatican adventures:

Waiting in line to get into the Vatican Museum. If you enjoy 2hrs in the hot June sun in Italy, this is the way to go. You can save money this way, and we are penny pinchers! However if you value energy later to push other tourists out of your way to see the Raphael Room, you can book in advance and bypass the line...

Practicing our lightning hurling skills with Zeus. 

Gun show with Hercules.

Talking philosophy with Plato and Aristotle. (School of Athens)

Downing DELICIOUS fruity gelato. Passion fruit + lemon + raspberry = match made in heaven.

And finally, squeezing into our wee lil elevator after a long day on our feet! What a day!