Looking in Unison!

Despite chilly rain in Rome this morning* we headed to the Vatican Museums. No wait to enter--this surprised us, as well as the fact that photography was permitted everywhere (except in the Sistine Chapel).

I think this group was listening to their tour guide; they are looking at the huge "Battle of the Milvian Bridge" (among the largest single frescoes in the Vatican) by Giulio Romano. It's in the Hall of Constantine--one of the so-called Raphael rooms (Stanze de Raffaello), but completed after Raphael's death in 1520; Romano was his leading collaborator.   The little blue gadgets hanging on green straps are most likely audioguides.

We were quite selective in our attention (it's a huge place), mainly doing the Pinacoteca (excellent Italian old masters, including one more Caravaggio), as well as the Raphael rooms, the gallery of modern works (the past century--surprisingly good), and the Egyptian museum (superb).  Happily the rain had stopped by our departure at about 3 pm (and, come to think of it, *some sun must have been out to provide the bright spots in this shot--just after noon).