Cityscape on Camera: Rome & Vatican City, Italy

Next up in my European Extravaganza recap series: Rome, Italy (including Vatican City)! I'm pretty late getting this Travel Tuesday post up, so it's going to be heavy on the pictures and light on the descriptions (but you only come for the pictures anyway, right?). If you want to know anything more about a specific picture, please ask! And make sure you're not a no-reply blogger so I can actually respond to your comment. :)

Photo via @mcstroup on Instagram

First up: Rome. We explored the city a lot on our own at first, then took a fairly short free walking tour in the evening of our second day, and finally joined a small (paid) tour group to enter the Colosseum on our final morning. I definitely recommend paying for a guide inside the Colosseum: you learn so much more about the history and hear specific stories about the gladiators.

Some of the more famous sites pictured below include: the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Forum, Hadrian's Temple, Palatine Hill, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and—of course—the Colosseum:

This Italian church is painted to look like it has a dome ...

... but when you get closer, you realize it's fake!

Next up: Vatican City! Of course, you're not supposed to take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel (although I saw a ton of tourists with cameras), but I still captured plenty of gorgeous ceilings elsewhere in the Vatican. I also thought it was odd that cameras are allowed in St. Peter's Basilica, where Mass is still offered, but not in the Sistine Chapel. Thoughts from fellow travelers and/or photographers?

Link up with your travel stories and/or tips below! I only ask that you include my button and/or link back to my site. :) Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!


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