Vatican city

Italian laundry!

Vatican city here we come.

It's massive, grand, spotless and opulent.

We head for St Peter's Basilica to climb the 871 steps to the top.

Part way up we get to look down on the inside of the church. It's huge and quite beautiful.

Mosiacs.

The staircase gets very narrow and leans too.

I feel like we've been at the top of so many buildings and had such amazing views. This one's no different. I love the calm feeling being so high up, just the gentle breeze as you gaze over Rome.

Having a rest on the way down.

Inside the church, one of the largest in the world.

Swiss guard, protecting the Pope.

These enthusiastic Mexican musicians were just getting into their performance when the police came and made them stop. Boo, hiss!

Lots of people were waiting for something, perhaps the Pope was gonna appear.

Castle Sant Angelo.

Best pizza ever!

Tram.

Colosseum

Early on a blissfully cloudy morning we head out to visit the Colosseum.

We are not disappointed, it's magnificent!

It's packed with tour groups and touts insisting that if you tour with them you'll beat the queues. We didn't have to queue anyway.

We were surprised that the floor is not there so you can see right into the corridors and tunnels of the lower level.

We do a loop round the outside too. You just can't  stop looking at it.

Arco di Costantino.

We had a brief wander near Palatine Hill but by the time we were done with the Colosseum the queues were huge and it was baking so couldn't face it. 

Found a quiet little place for a lazy lunch.