Rome, Italy At Vatican City, looking across Saint Peter's Square to St. Peter's Basilica on a rainy night.

Rome, Italy The Castel Sant'Angelo was built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian and his family. Built between 130-139 AD, it was the tallest building in Rome, and was used as a fortress by the popes during medieval times.. The Ponte Sant'Angelo crosses the Tiber River and leads to the entrance to the building.

Rome, Italy A view of the Tiber River and Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II with a view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica viewed through one of the arches of the Ponte Sant'Angelo.

Rome, Italy The Ponte Sant'Angelo leading to the Castel Sant'Angelo is lined with 10 angels holding "instruments of the Passion". This angel on the west side holds a thorn crown.

Rome, Italy Looking across the Tiber River and Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II towards St. Peter's Basilica.

Rome, Italy The view of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican as viewed looking down Via della Conciliazione.

Rome, Italy A cafe along Via della Conciliazione, the street that leads up to Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Rome, Italy Looking across Saint Peter's Square to St. Peter's Basilica in the early morning at the Vatican. The 4,000 year old Egyptian obelisk in the center of the square came from Alexandria and is the only obelisk in Rome that has not toppled since Roman times.

Rome, Italy Cortile del Belvedere at the Vatican on a rainy day. The Sphere Within Sphere sculpture by Italian sculptur Arnaldo Pomodoro is one of many around the world.

Rome, Italy The colossal Tuscany colonades surrounding the elliptical piazza at Saint Peter's Square are a massive four columns deep. They lead to the trapezoidal entrance to St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Rome, Italy Columns in the colonnade at Saint Peter's Square.

Rome, Italy A view of the Colonades at the Vatican viewed through an archway in the old city wall.

Rome, Italy This statue of Saint Peter stands on the stairs at the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, overlooking Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Rome, Italy Pontifical Swiss Guards stand at the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica on Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Rome, Italy The Piazza del Popolo lies within Rome's Aurelian Wall. Standing in the center of the piazza is the Egyptian Flaminio Obelisk from Heliopolis.

Rome, Italy Our tour guide in Rome who braved the rain while taking us past the long lines to see the Vatican.

Rome, Italy Inside St. Peter's Basilica at Vatican City.

Rome, Italy The famed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Rome, Italy One of the many hallways within the museums and buildings of Vatican City.

Rome, Italy A nun sits and prays at St. Peter's Basilica.

Rome, Italy Statues of saints on the balustrade overlooking Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Rome, Italy The Italian State Police share in the responsibility for security at Saint Peter's Square and the Vatican.

Rome, Italy The Palace of Justice houses the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Judicial Public Library.

Rome, Italy The dome of the San Carlo al Corso basilica viewed looking over the wall of the Mausoleum of Augustus.

Rome, Italy Largo di Torre Argentina are some of the many Roman ruins in Rome.

Rome, Italy One of the most recognizable buildings in Rome, the Altare della Patria is a monument to Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy. It was completed in 1925.

Rome, Italy A window on Piazza Navona.