The last day of walking began on the outskirts of Rome along the congested roadway of Via Cassia with overflowing garbage dumpsters and obstructed sidewalks. We took the advice of our fellow hikers and took the local train filled with high school students for about 5 miles which allowed us rejoin the trail at a urban park called Monte Mario. It is a large nature preserve that led us to an overlook with a panoramic view of Rome. Even though it was our first morning of gloomy weather, it was a beautiful sight.
We enjoyed the walk down into the city, walking through the neighborhoods that lead up to the walls of Vatican City. And there it was - St Peter’s Square with the giant Basilica and colonnades greeting us. It was midday and there was a sparse crowd so we took our photos and enjoyed a relaxing lunch at a sidewalk restaurant.
It was rather fitting that our hotel in Rome was a former monastery attached to a large church. The building dates back to the 10th century and is currently undegoing archeological study.
The next day, we returned to St Peter’s and went to the Sacristy office to receive our Testimonium document for completing our Pilgrimage on the Via Francigena. We had started our day with an early entrance to the Vatican Museum which allowed us to be virtually alone in the Sistine Chapel for a few minutes. (Okay, there were some guards and a cleaner in there with us too.) The soaring dome of the cathedral, the art masterpieces, the relics everywhere you look - it was all a little overwhelming. I need to have some time to let it all soak in.
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