*👉🏻 Best Tours & Experiences in Rome:* ✝ Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica Tour - gyg.me/nDLFolkR ✝ St. Peter's Basilica Tour with Dome and Papal Tombs - gyg.me/gLKPkgta ✝ Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-The-Line Tickets - gyg.me/xsHlAMYk 🏛 Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour - gyg.me/shrHJxIE 🛌 Find places to stay near St Peter's Basilica: tinyurl.com/stpetersbasilicarome 📕 Get your eBook Brief History of the Vatican and discover the fascinating history of the holiest place in the Catholic world! - tinyurl.com/ycszycxd
I found the Vatican Museum and Basilica completely overwhelming to be honest. So much to see in the museum, but carried along by a tidal wave of people and unable to take much of it in, for instance, my feet hardly seemed to touch the floor in the Sistine Chapel before I was ushered out. I think I could spend a week in there and not see it all. Thanks for the great information, keep my eyes peeled next time 🤞🏻
Yes, living in Rome means I get to see these things often which is lucky for me, as I almost always see something new! I agree it can be overwhelming to visit these sites. This is one reason i try ti just share a little at a time in hopes people find it more interesting that way! Thanks for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Another wonderful video Elyssa, loved the intro about the original old Basilica, we saw the columns and mosaics including inside Santa Maria Maggiore so beautiful. I never knew that all the "paintings" are actually mosaics.Another brilliant video about things you would never look for and miss.
I think I've seen some of the removed canvas paintings inside Santa Maria Degli Angeli at dei Martiri. They were rolled up on the floor a few years ago. Probably up on the walls by now.
Fabulous!! 👏 👏. I knew St Peter's Basilica was rebuilt but i didn't know that the Solomonic twisted columns were recycled for the new St Peter's. We'll have to take a look at them next time. Isn't one of the balconies with the columns where St Monica's veil is displayed on her feast day?We really appreciate your excellent videos 🙏
Thank you so much for your kind comments. Yes there are so many wonderful things to see inside Saint Peter's basilica including the beautiful sculpture of Veronica and her veil. And yes, the actual veil is brought out for the public to see on her feast day. Thanks again for watching!
Hello Elyssa Thank you for these videos they are very informative even for an experienced traveler like myself. You do a wonderful job of explaining things And showing us the details that most of us have missed so thank you again .
Thanks so much for your kind words. I especially appreciate them since you are a seasoned traveler. I'm glad I could share something new with you! Thanks again for following and for your feedback.
I thought St. Peter's Basilica ans Sistine Chapel were incredible. I missed that mosaic of the boat! It looks awesome! That is incredible that what I thought were paintings were actually mosaics! How did they make those? Did they set them and then paint the pieces or did they hand place each piece already colored? 💯 👏 👏
Yes, they are amazing places to visit! You may be interested to read this official website of the Vatican about the mosaics: www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/saint-peters/the-mosaic-studio.html
ive been to rome many times and been to many other cities in europe but rome is the most overwhelming of all the cities, because of too much to see and believe it you must come back. rome takes you in and she surprises everyone with hidden gems.
Thank you so much for watching. I'm glad you find my videos helpful. I have a whole page about visiting Pompeii here: www.romewise.com/pompeii-from-rome.html
Thanks so much for noticing! I work hard to make original content that I hope people find interesting and I really appreciate you letting me know you enjoy my videos!@@AndyAdventuring
As always another GREAT video. We have set aside a whole day when we get there in October. We have a guided tour of Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's. Will definitely find these gems. Thanks again for your work.
Love, Love, LOVED THIS! I have visited St Peter's Basilica a few times and never knew about some of these hidden gems. Great video!!! If I am ever able to visit Rome, again, I will be sure to view this vlog and take in the Basilica, in a different way.
The Solomonic Columns and Canopy are truly breathtaking and unique, and the Vatican a must see. An interesting future video could be the amazing but incomplete Siena cathedral, thanks so much!😊🙏
Fantastic tips and secrets. Of course none of watching knew anything about them, we can't even figure out the trains or where to buy tickets. 😂 Love the 101 handholding, more please. I've visited 3 or 4 times the sistine chapel and basilica and it always is a wow. Thanks again for bringing us out from behind the lens. We depart for Rome on Tuesday❤
The basement of Saint Peter's Basilica is where the so-called Vatican Grottoes are located. This is where many popes are buried. You can easily visit it from the main level of the basilica. There is a staircase just behind Bernini's baldachino (canopy). It's free to visit the grottoes and it's easy - the space is large and not claustrophobic. When you are down there, you can see remnants of the original Constantinian basilica.
Excellent. Another treasure from the old St Peter’s is the doors by Filarete in the portico. Do you know what’s going on with St Peter’s dome. It is dark in color and is quite unattractive, at least for me. I will be visiting Rome again next March-my 8th time. Rome is the most fascinating city in the world. thanks again. Ken
Thank you! Yes, you are right, those doors are amazing. I am not sure what you are talking about regarding St. Peter's dome. Maybe they are doing some maintenance on it. There is alot of work in Rome this year to prepare for the Jubilee in 2025.
I didn't like hearing they used the lid of Hadrians' tomb as a baptismal font. It would be nice to see it honored for what it was. So much art and many structures from ancient history have been lost in this way, although I also am aware that some were preserved if the Christians saw a use for them, so I am grateful for that. Thank you for your awesome videos!
I'm afraid so much of what was once important in Ancient Rome has been re-used as something else as "spolia". Even parts of the Colosseum were used to make many churches in Rome including Saint Peter's Basilica, On the other hand, at least it was not lost for good, as you pointed out, so having a use for it meant it was preserved. The best example of this is the Pantheon, which was turned into a church in 609, which meant that it was no longer pilfered and further dismantled. Anyway thank you for watching my video and for your kind words!
@@Romewise Another great video Elyssa! Something I dont think a lot of people have a sufficient appreciation of about Rome is about how unpopulated it was during the "dark" and middle ages. Century after century of it being nearly empty, I hear maybe 40-50,000 people. Not to say that all of the various baths and other great sites being broken down was a good thing, but, after generations of complete disuse, if I were a poor Roman and I had to fix my little home, I suppose Id head on down to the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla (for instance) and pick up a few things to patch the roof or rebuild a wall....like Home Depot....but free! Anyways, hoping and praying to get back to Rome this December. Was there last over 30 years ago when I was a teenager. Your videos have been great!
@@andrewrolwes6034 Thanks so much for your comments. Yes you are right, Rome was really dismal in those days. There were moments in time during the early Middle Ages when there were fewer than 1,000 people here! I highly recommend an excellent podcast, The History of Rome, by the historian Mike Duncan: thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/the_history_of_rome/ He really goes in-depth in his descriptions. Anyway, as you say, a lot of how people lived in those early days after the fall of the Western Roman Empire was simply by trying to survive. Thriving was barely an option. So I do understand their complete lack of interest in preserving old monuments and buildings! I hope you'll make it back to Rome soon. Thanks again for watching and for your comments!
How long would one have to wait in line during February? I am planning to be there on 5th Feb next year, which is a Monday. It would be really helpful if you could give me an estimate ❤
At this point it's hard to say. If you are here on a weekend, you can still expect ling lines. And sometimes there is simply a very small line, but at other times, times when I would not expect a line, like 3pm on a Tuesday in early February, there can be a huge line! But overall, early February is quieter than other times of the year in Rome, so you should not have to wait too long in line. Have a great visit!
Your videos are very informative and helpful! How do I book on official website for vatican? I’m booking 3 months advance it showed not bookable on my selected date. Thanks
Thank you! I am glad you find my videos helpful. Here's everything you need to know about visiting the Vatican, including the official websites: www.romewise.com/visiting-the-vatican.html
Hi ma’am, fan of your videos over here! Question…what do you recommend? We are visiting 13 Sept. have out “Guided Tour: Vatican museums & Sistine Chapel booked already for 08:30 start. (tickets in hand for 2) We want to tour the St Peter Basilica right after (but figured the 2+ hrs will be waiting for us post Vatican tour) Do you recommend us to book a private tour thru a reseller (get your guide, the tour guide, etc), that includes de basilica & Grattoes? Or muster the lines…if so, is there access to the Grottoes the standing in line route…? Open to suggestions and any recommendation. Young couple over here, and this will be the end of a 15 day thru Italy trip. Again, thx for all your videos!
In Sept you can walk right in to St Peters, Pieta on right and several Elyssa tips in this video. MUST See ancient ruins go down street and walk up equally interesting Capitoline Steps and be blown away. Many of Elyssa's guides are the "unknowns" with less crowds. We did a guided bike tour from other side of Colosseum, best thing I ever did. Pantheon and Spanish Steps a must. Enjoy! Florence Uffizi is amazing and great Gelato place under Uffizi on right. Pitti Palace and if time permits Siena :-)
You can take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel into the basilica. That will save you a lot of time. I have alot of tips here on this channel, plus many more on my website. Links are in the description of this video. Have a wonderful trip!
Ah you are right, I didn't specifically say that. Yes, the importance of the disc is that it's where Charlemagne knelt as he was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. As I mentioned, from antiquity through the Renaissance, porphyry was only used for very important people, so it would have been a perfect sport for Charlemagne to kneel as he was being crowned by the pope. The reason it's at the entrance to Saint Peter's Basilica now is specifically so that everyone can walk on it - it's meant to symbolize that the church is for everyone.
Id like tour st peters even though im less catholic than sinead occoner , but it would infuriate all catholic exs andy ex wife seekng ms there, lol thats terrible lol
*👉🏻 Best Tours & Experiences in Rome:*
✝ Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica Tour - gyg.me/nDLFolkR
✝ St. Peter's Basilica Tour with Dome and Papal Tombs - gyg.me/gLKPkgta
✝ Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-The-Line Tickets - gyg.me/xsHlAMYk
🏛 Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour - gyg.me/shrHJxIE
🛌 Find places to stay near St Peter's Basilica: tinyurl.com/stpetersbasilicarome
📕 Get your eBook Brief History of the Vatican and discover the fascinating history of the holiest place in the Catholic world! - tinyurl.com/ycszycxd
I found the Vatican Museum and Basilica completely overwhelming to be honest. So much to see in the museum, but carried along by a tidal wave of people and unable to take much of it in, for instance, my feet hardly seemed to touch the floor in the Sistine Chapel before I was ushered out. I think I could spend a week in there and not see it all. Thanks for the great information, keep my eyes peeled next time 🤞🏻
Yes, living in Rome means I get to see these things often which is lucky for me, as I almost always see something new! I agree it can be overwhelming to visit these sites. This is one reason i try ti just share a little at a time in hopes people find it more interesting that way! Thanks for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Another wonderful video Elyssa, loved the intro about the original old Basilica, we saw the columns and mosaics including inside Santa Maria Maggiore so beautiful. I never knew that all the "paintings" are actually mosaics.Another brilliant video about things you would never look for and miss.
I think I've seen some of the removed canvas paintings inside Santa Maria Degli Angeli at dei Martiri. They were rolled up on the floor a few years ago. Probably up on the walls by now.
So glad you enjoyed it Peter! I'm happy if you learned something new - that's one of my goals! I love sharing all these wonderful things :)
Fabulous!! 👏 👏. I knew St Peter's Basilica was rebuilt but i didn't know that the Solomonic twisted columns were recycled for the new St Peter's. We'll have to take a look at them next time. Isn't one of the balconies with the columns where St Monica's veil is displayed on her feast day?We really appreciate your excellent videos 🙏
Thank you so much for your kind comments. Yes there are so many wonderful things to see inside Saint Peter's basilica including the beautiful sculpture of Veronica and her veil. And yes, the actual veil is brought out for the public to see on her feast day. Thanks again for watching!
Very useful videos, and l like your lipstick colour too 😅
Ahhh thank you so much!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing these treasures soon. Grazie!
Glad you like them!
Hello Elyssa
Thank you for these videos they are very informative even for an experienced traveler like myself.
You do a wonderful job of explaining things And showing us the details that most of us have missed so thank you again .
Thanks so much for your kind words. I especially appreciate them since you are a seasoned traveler. I'm glad I could share something new with you! Thanks again for following and for your feedback.
I thought St. Peter's Basilica ans Sistine Chapel were incredible. I missed that mosaic of the boat! It looks awesome! That is incredible that what I thought were paintings were actually mosaics! How did they make those? Did they set them and then paint the pieces or did they hand place each piece already colored? 💯 👏 👏
Yes, they are amazing places to visit! You may be interested to read this official website of the Vatican about the mosaics:
www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/saint-peters/the-mosaic-studio.html
@@Romewise thank you very much! 👏
@@goodrich06 My pleasure!
Heading to Rome in March - and will be looking for these Hidden gems!
Thanks for letting me know! I hope you enjoy your visit!
ive been to rome many times and been to many other cities in europe but rome is the most overwhelming of all the cities, because of too much to see and believe it you must come back. rome takes you in and she surprises everyone with hidden gems.
Very true! It's a constant discovery!
Hi, I'm going to Rome next week :D Any advice on getting to pompeii for a day trip? Thanks your videos are so helpful
Thank you so much for watching. I'm glad you find my videos helpful.
I have a whole page about visiting Pompeii here:
www.romewise.com/pompeii-from-rome.html
Incredible insights. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching.
@@Romewise No, thank you! I've watched a few videos and found some very interesting tips and ideas I've not seen elsewhere yet.
Thanks so much for noticing! I work hard to make original content that I hope people find interesting and I really appreciate you letting me know you enjoy my videos!@@AndyAdventuring
You are the best!!! ❤
Awww thank you so much!!
I'm visiting Rome in October and will definitely be looking out for these hidden items! Many thanks for your fantastic videos.
Hope you enjoy!
As always another GREAT video. We have set aside a whole day when we get there in October. We have a guided tour of Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's. Will definitely find these gems. Thanks again for your work.
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy these tours. There is a lot to see. Let us know if you find all the gems in this video!
I knew about Charlemagne’s disk, but you got me on everything else. Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! I'm glad you found the video interesting :)
Going in October definitely going to try to see many of these places. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for letting me know you find the video useful! I hope you have a wonderful visit in October!
Thank You so much!!!
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!
Love, Love, LOVED THIS! I have visited St Peter's Basilica a few times and never knew about some of these hidden gems. Great video!!! If I am ever able to visit Rome, again, I will be sure to view this vlog and take in the Basilica, in a different way.
Thank you! That was my aim - to share things not everyone knows about. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
The Solomonic Columns and Canopy are truly breathtaking and unique, and the Vatican a must see. An interesting future video could be the amazing but incomplete Siena cathedral, thanks so much!😊🙏
Thank you so much as always!
Love your videos Elyssa 🤗 so informative! Thank you 🤍
Thank you so much Zoey!!
Fantastic tips and secrets. Of course none of watching knew anything about them, we can't even figure out the trains or where to buy tickets. 😂 Love the 101 handholding, more please. I've visited 3 or 4 times the sistine chapel and basilica and it always is a wow. Thanks again for bringing us out from behind the lens. We depart for Rome on Tuesday❤
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoy my videos! Have a great visit!
Is there any secret in the basment of basilica?? Plz tell me more about the basment...please
The basement of Saint Peter's Basilica is where the so-called Vatican Grottoes are located. This is where many popes are buried. You can easily visit it from the main level of the basilica. There is a staircase just behind Bernini's baldachino (canopy). It's free to visit the grottoes and it's easy - the space is large and not claustrophobic. When you are down there, you can see remnants of the original Constantinian basilica.
Excellent. Another treasure from the old St Peter’s is the doors by Filarete in the portico. Do you know what’s going on with St Peter’s dome. It is dark in color and is quite unattractive, at least for me. I will be visiting Rome again next March-my 8th time. Rome is the most fascinating city in the world. thanks again. Ken
Thank you! Yes, you are right, those doors are amazing. I am not sure what you are talking about regarding St. Peter's dome. Maybe they are doing some maintenance on it. There is alot of work in Rome this year to prepare for the Jubilee in 2025.
Great.
I didn't like hearing they used the lid of Hadrians' tomb as a baptismal font. It would be nice to see it honored for what it was. So much art and many structures from ancient history have been lost in this way, although I also am aware that some were preserved if the Christians saw a use for them, so I am grateful for that. Thank you for your awesome videos!
I'm afraid so much of what was once important in Ancient Rome has been re-used as something else as "spolia". Even parts of the Colosseum were used to make many churches in Rome including Saint Peter's Basilica, On the other hand, at least it was not lost for good, as you pointed out, so having a use for it meant it was preserved. The best example of this is the Pantheon, which was turned into a church in 609, which meant that it was no longer pilfered and further dismantled. Anyway thank you for watching my video and for your kind words!
@@Romewise
Another great video Elyssa!
Something I dont think a lot of people have a sufficient appreciation of about Rome is about how unpopulated it was during the "dark" and middle ages. Century after century of it being nearly empty, I hear maybe 40-50,000 people.
Not to say that all of the various baths and other great sites being broken down was a good thing, but, after generations of complete disuse, if I were a poor Roman and I had to fix my little home, I suppose Id head on down to the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla (for instance) and pick up a few things to patch the roof or rebuild a wall....like Home Depot....but free!
Anyways, hoping and praying to get back to Rome this December. Was there last over 30 years ago when I was a teenager. Your videos have been great!
@@andrewrolwes6034 Thanks so much for your comments. Yes you are right, Rome was really dismal in those days. There were moments in time during the early Middle Ages when there were fewer than 1,000 people here! I highly recommend an excellent podcast, The History of Rome, by the historian Mike Duncan:
thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/the_history_of_rome/
He really goes in-depth in his descriptions.
Anyway, as you say, a lot of how people lived in those early days after the fall of the Western Roman Empire was simply by trying to survive. Thriving was barely an option. So I do understand their complete lack of interest in preserving old monuments and buildings!
I hope you'll make it back to Rome soon. Thanks again for watching and for your comments!
How long would one have to wait in line during February? I am planning to be there on 5th Feb next year, which is a Monday. It would be really helpful if you could give me an estimate ❤
At this point it's hard to say. If you are here on a weekend, you can still expect ling lines. And sometimes there is simply a very small line, but at other times, times when I would not expect a line, like 3pm on a Tuesday in early February, there can be a huge line!
But overall, early February is quieter than other times of the year in Rome, so you should not have to wait too long in line. Have a great visit!
Your videos are very informative and helpful! How do I book on official website for vatican? I’m booking 3 months advance it showed not bookable on my selected date. Thanks
Thank you! I am glad you find my videos helpful.
Here's everything you need to know about visiting the Vatican, including the official websites:
www.romewise.com/visiting-the-vatican.html
Hi ma’am, fan of your videos over here! Question…what do you recommend? We are visiting 13 Sept. have out “Guided Tour: Vatican museums & Sistine Chapel booked already for 08:30 start. (tickets in hand for 2)
We want to tour the St Peter Basilica right after (but figured the 2+ hrs will be waiting for us post Vatican tour)
Do you recommend us to book a private tour thru a reseller (get your guide, the tour guide, etc), that includes de basilica & Grattoes? Or muster the lines…if so, is there access to the Grottoes the standing in line route…?
Open to suggestions and any recommendation. Young couple over here, and this will be the end of a 15 day thru Italy trip.
Again, thx for all your videos!
In Sept you can walk right in to St Peters, Pieta on right and several Elyssa tips in this video. MUST See ancient ruins go down street and walk up equally interesting Capitoline Steps and be blown away. Many of Elyssa's guides are the "unknowns" with less crowds. We did a guided bike tour from other side of Colosseum, best thing I ever did. Pantheon and Spanish Steps a must. Enjoy!
Florence Uffizi is amazing and great Gelato place under Uffizi on right. Pitti Palace and if time permits Siena :-)
Thanks a lot for your lovely answer @Godlvr008!
You can take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel into the basilica. That will save you a lot of time. I have alot of tips here on this channel, plus many more on my website. Links are in the description of this video. Have a wonderful trip!
So HOW is the Porphyry disc related to the crowing of Charlemagne? Is that what he was kneeling on or something?
Ah you are right, I didn't specifically say that. Yes, the importance of the disc is that it's where Charlemagne knelt as he was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. As I mentioned, from antiquity through the Renaissance, porphyry was only used for very important people, so it would have been a perfect sport for Charlemagne to kneel as he was being crowned by the pope.
The reason it's at the entrance to Saint Peter's Basilica now is specifically so that everyone can walk on it - it's meant to symbolize that the church is for everyone.
Id like tour st peters even though im less catholic than sinead occoner , but it would infuriate all catholic exs andy ex wife seekng ms there, lol thats terrible lol