Tuesday, February 27 was cold with some remaining snow.  Collin, Grace and I started our day with coffee and a cornetto (Italian for croissant).  The whole family went back to St. Peter's Square at 3 pm and stood in line for the Basilica.  It took an hour, but the kids entertained themselves with 6 player games of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" and "Sticks" and something they were calling "Ninja Hands".  The inside of St. Peter's is as breath taking as you would expect!  The grandeur completely strips you of words.  You simply stand there with your mouth hanging open!  Here are some photos, but they just can't accurately recreated the feeling of being there.

My first moments in the Basilica.

https://youtu.be/rvwn98mFnPc

Coffee and cornetto.  Grace had a cappuccino and I had a cafe latte. 

The columns are 4 deep, but if you stand on a certain marked spot in the square, the columns line up directly behind one another so it appears to only be one column deep.  This was done on purpose by Bernini, the designer of the Square.

This stone is the spot where Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.  It's at the back of St. Peter's, just inside the door.

The large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy over the altar.  A barricade and chairs set up for Wednesday's Papal Audience kept us from getting closer.

The aforementioned chairs and barricade kept me from getting right under the dome.  Perhaps the next visit.

This is the crypt of St. Pope John Paul II that is in one of the side chapels.  He is my favorite pope and teacher. One of his greatest contributions was his teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Aaron's middle name is Gregory and he is named for this saint/pope.

Aaron posing with his guy!

Michelangelo's Pieta sculpted in 1499 when Michelangelo was only 24 years old.  The piece is carved from a solid piece of marble.

The sculpture is protected with bullet proof glass after a mad man attacked it with a hammer in 1972 and broke off Mary's left arm at the elbow, her nose and some of her eyebrow.  It took 10 months for master craftsmen to repaired her. 

On the steps of St. Peter's Basilica looking out into the square.

It was getting dark by the time we left the Basilica and the outdoor lights were on.