Churches and Mass

Today had a very successful beginning. A group of us got up early and left the apt at 8am to go to mass at St. Peter's. The pope wasn't there, so it was only a parish mass and thankfully much less crowded. Shockingly, there was almost no line at the security checkpoint. What a difference from last week! Once we got inside the area for mass was blocked off and guarded by Vatican workers in suits. The basilica was much less crowded than normal and we admired it while we waited for them to open the barrier for mass. At 8:30 they started letting people through, but only if mass was your reason for going in. No visits were allowed and it was like a secret password because you had to say "mass" to get in.

The mass itself was good, besides the fact it was all in Italian which I could not understand. The amazing part was what you got to look at while sitting in the pews. So beautiful!

After we came back from mass, we took an hour to rest and get ready before heading out again to hit those few last places we wanted to see. First stop was a bit of a funny failure. We went to S. Luigi dei Francesi which is the French national church in Rome. However when we got there it was closed. We then realized it was the 14th of July, which is Bastille day. Of course the French church would be closed on Bastille day! Who cares that this is Rome!?

see the S L monogram in the window

Anywho, after that escape we continued on the way to the metro and stopped in this church with a gorgeous and unique facade. It was the church devoted to Mary Magdalene and I really thought the exterior was quite lovely.

Next on our wanderings, we walked through this mall in one of the piazzas near the Spanish steps. It was the most beautifully decorated mall I've ever been in. Mosaic floors based of ancient Roman patterns and everything!

Next we took the metro to Termini station to see one of the churches there. On the way I stopped to take a picture of the huge golden statue at the top of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Santa Maria Maggiore was the name of the church we visited, which is the major church dedicated to Mary in Rome. It had a unique Byzantine feel and had many small chapels on the side of the nave.

This is a lovely fountain we stopped to dip our hands in to cool off on our way back to the metro.

Another fountain we ran across with some very nice sculpted decor.