{"id":2762,"date":"2014-08-02T16:45:45","date_gmt":"2014-08-02T06:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/?p=2762"},"modified":"2014-11-03T11:32:37","modified_gmt":"2014-11-03T00:32:37","slug":"vatican-agnostic-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"49. An Agnostic&#8217;s Guide to the Vatican"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m not a deeply religious person. I know that there is definitely something out there, but I don&#8217;t have a name for it. At the very least, I celebrate the Hindu festivals that my parents taught me as a child, and will pass on the traditions and legends to my children, but I don&#8217;t feel any inherent fear of an invisible deity, nor do I believe in any Christian denomination mythology. <\/p>\n<p>All the same, I found myself at the center of Christian Religion, at the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vatican_City\" title=\"Vatican City\" target=\"_blank\">Vatican City<\/a> in Rome. My husband and I were dubious about going at first &#8211; with only two days in Rome we were strapped for time (we had originally planned for three days, but after <a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/2013\/12\/41-why-florence-is-like-highschool\/\" title=\"41. Five Reasons why Florence is like Highschool\" target=\"_blank\">giving Florence a second chance<\/a>, and then an extended <a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/2014\/01\/42-lost-in-tuscany\/\" title=\"42. Lost in Tuscany\" target=\"_blank\">adventure through Tuscany<\/a>, we sadly ended up losing a day in Rome). But I&#8217;m glad we spared a morning for the Vatican. If you &#8211; as an Agnostic, Athiest, or Non-Christian &#8211; can ignore the mundane collection of repetitive Christian art, there is enough on offer to intrigue even the most staunch of heathens!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<!--more--><br \/>\nTechnically a state within itself, the Vatican City floods with pilgrims and tourists alike most days of the year. The crowds are even worse the last Sunday of the month, when entry is free to all, so I would advise you to save your pennies and plan your visit accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>When we did eventually get inside, we went straight to the Vatican Museums. Funneled through a passageway alongside the Belvedere courtyard, we found ourselves in heaven (pun not intended); the passage was wallpapered with dozens of ancient maps, painted exquisitely by talented cartographers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"445\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-391x300.jpg 391w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail11.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail11.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail11-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail11-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail2.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail2.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail2-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Most people ignored the art and continued on without so much as a glance at the walls, while a few tour groups stopped momentarily as their guides made the requisite speech and then continued on into the next gallery. The lull between each group was sufficient for us to have enough space for un-obscured photos &#8211; pure indulgence at a popular attraction like this! Getting up close and personal with such delicate work made my day, and we were only in the first of many galleries.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/maps-ceiling.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/maps-ceiling.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"377\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/maps-ceiling.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/maps-ceiling-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/maps-ceiling-461x300.jpg 461w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail3.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail3.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/map-detail3-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"raphael\"><\/a>The Raphael Room caught our attention next, the wall adorned with one of our favourites, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/School_of_athens\" title=\"The School of Athens, by Raphael\" target=\"_blank\">The School of Athens<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2776\" style=\"width: 589px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/school-of-athens.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2776\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/school-of-athens.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"579\" height=\"309\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/school-of-athens.jpg 579w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/school-of-athens-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/school-of-athens-500x266.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2776\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Also known as &#8220;The School of Philosophy&#8221;, the painting features many of Raphael&#8217;s contemporaries. Some of the more famous ones include Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and Archimedes. Having studied philosophy at university, I particularly loved the trivia behind this artwork &#8211; we ended up buying a jigsaw puzzle version to take home.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_2775\" style=\"width: 589px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/self-portrait.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2775\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/self-portrait.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"579\" height=\"309\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/self-portrait.jpg 579w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/self-portrait-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/self-portrait-500x266.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2775\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Besides his contemporaries, Raphael also included his own self-portrait &#8211; you can see him peeking around the corner here.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>En-route to the Sistine Chapel we passed through the Gallery of Modern Religious Art. My husband and are I both art-lovers, so we took turns standing in the queue of tourists, whilst the other spent some time looking around the room. No-one else took our lead &#8211; they remained in line like turtles, slowly shuffling their way through the Vatican Museums with barely a glance at the art around them, so focused they were on the final destination. We actually enjoyed this room (as well as the previous ones mentioned) more than the famous chapel.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2780\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2780\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art1.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art1.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art1-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2780\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Le Sacrifice, by Leon Zack<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_2778\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2778\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art3.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"1000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art3.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art3-174x300.jpg 174w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2778\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">No Name by Alice Lok Cahana<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_2784\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2784\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art2.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art2.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/modern-art2-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2784\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crucifixion by Mirko Basaldella<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Eventually, we poured into the Sistine Chapel, like a river delta meeting the ocean. The room is flooded, and we are fish (again, ignore the pun), trying to squirm our way into some empty space to gasp for air and take a look around. The secret flash of cameras are seen here and there, despite the guards doing their best to whisper &#8220;no photos allowed!&#8221; in their sternest of hushed voices. Even as an agnostic, I grew angry at the insolence and disrespect of these so-called pilgrims with their snapping cameras and voices growing in crescendo.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2781\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sistine-chapel.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2781\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sistine-chapel.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sistine-chapel.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sistine-chapel-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sistine-chapel-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2781\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The chapel features fresco&#8217;s by Michelangelo; on the wall, the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Last_Judgment_%28Michelangelo%29\" title=\"Michelangelo's \"The Last Judgement\"\" target=\"_blank\">Last Judgement<\/a>; on the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sistine_Chapel_ceiling\" title=\"Sistine Chapel ceiling\" target=\"_blank\">ceiling<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Creation_of_Adam\" title=\"Michelangelo's \"The Creation of Adam\"\" target=\"_blank\">The Creation of Adam<\/a>. Credit: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thepaintbar.com\" title=\"http:\/\/www.thepaintbar.com\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.thepaintbar.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Weary after our congo dance through the Vatican, we grabbed lunch and beer (yes, beer!) before heading past the Aboriginal exhibit, into the Pinacoteca Room. A Flemish tapestry &#8211; a copy of Da Vinci&#8217;s Last Supper &#8211; catches our attention first.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/tapestry.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/tapestry.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"309\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2785\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/tapestry.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/tapestry-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/tapestry-500x266.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2786\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/mary.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2786\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/mary.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/mary.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/mary-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/mary-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2786\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Since Dan Brown&#8217;s book, &#8220;The Da Vinci Code&#8221;, much controversy has been raised about the person on Jesus&#8217; right at the last supper. Some speculate it is actually his wife, Mary Magdalene, indicated by the feminine appearance and &#8220;delicately clasped hands&#8221;; the fact their hands are almost touching; the way they are dressed complimentary to each other; and the &#8220;V&#8221; shape between them indicating the fertility of marriage.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>While we both love a good story, there was more than just controversy that caught our attention in these walls. The Pinacoteca was originally intended to house a collection of paintings belonging to various popes. Many were taken to Paris by Napoleon in 1797, but later returned to Italy in 1815. One such painting was the Adoration of the Magi, restored to it&#8217;s former glory in 2005. The transformation was incredible:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2788\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/restoration.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2788\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/restoration.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"376\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2788\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/restoration.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/restoration-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/restoration-462x300.jpg 462w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2788\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My husband inspecting the painting pre and post-restoration: The Adoration of the Magi by<br \/>Raffaellino del Colle<\/p><\/div>\n<p>On our way out, we stop to marvel at the golden sphere by Arnaldo Pomodoro in the middle of the courtyard. Symbolic of the complex yet fragile nature of our world, we can&#8217;t help but think the Vatican is trying to tell us something&#8230; Or, sell us something.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2790\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sphere.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2790\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sphere.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sphere.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sphere-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sphere-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2790\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This isn&#8217;t the only sphere Arnaldo has created. Just one of many in the series, he began sculpting these remarkable spheres half a century ago in the 1960&#8217;s. Each one is unique, but all in the same theme; an orb being torn apart from the inside-out.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We scamper off quickly through the last rooms, down the iconic spiral stairs, and disappear into the warm heart of pagan Rome (read more about this soon), ready for a comforting dose of myth and legend to shake the Christian chill from our bones.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/stairs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/stairs.jpg\" alt=\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/stairs.jpg 580w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/stairs-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/stairs-449x300.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It took us five hours to consume our fill at the Vatican. It might take you less, if you move quickly through the rooms without looking around too much, or it may take you much longer, if you visit St Peter&#8217;s Basilica and the gardens as well. Either way &#8211; and yes, even as a heathen &#8211; I suggest you pay it a visit. <\/p>\n<p>See, I figure Rome has always been the center of mythology and magic &#8211; and Christian myth is just one fable in the history of the world religions. Neither right or wrong, but a story to enjoy on one&#8217;s travel through the world. And wouldn&#8217;t I be a hypocrite if I didn&#8217;t experience all the world has to offer?<\/p>\n<p>So tell me, what did you like best about the Vatican? <\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/honeymoon-heart.gif\">Enjoyed this post? <a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/2014\/08\/rome-pagan-roots\/\" title=\"50. Rome\u2019s Pagan Roots\" target=\"_blank\">Read the next post<\/a> from this series: &#8220;<em><a href=\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/tag\/honeymoon\/\" title=\"View my blog posts on our six-week honeymoon through Europe.\" target=\"_blank\">A Honeymooner&#8217;s Guide to six weeks in Europe<\/a><\/em>&#8221; now!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m not a deeply religious person. I know that there is definitely something out there, but I don&#8217;t have a name for it. At the very least, I celebrate the Hindu festivals that my parents taught me as a child, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[119,109,118],"class_list":["post-2762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-italy","tag-honeymoon","tag-rome","tag-vatican"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>In The Pursuit Of | The Vatican through Agnostic Eyes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you can ignore the mundane collection of repetitive biblical art, there is enough at The Vatican to intrigue even the most staunch of non-Christians.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In The Pursuit Of | The Vatican through Agnostic Eyes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you can ignore the mundane collection of repetitive biblical art, there is enough at The Vatican to intrigue even the most staunch of non-Christians.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In the pursuit of...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-08-02T06:45:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2014-11-03T00:32:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"580\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"387\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Avanti Young\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Avanti Young\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Avanti Young\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/faf3bbba33d1fc791ec39d9fb15096ad\"},\"headline\":\"49. An Agnostic&#8217;s Guide to the Vatican\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-08-02T06:45:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2014-11-03T00:32:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\"},\"wordCount\":1235,\"commentCount\":1,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"honeymoon\",\"Rome\",\"Vatican\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Italy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\",\"name\":\"In The Pursuit Of | The Vatican through Agnostic Eyes\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-08-02T06:45:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2014-11-03T00:32:37+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/faf3bbba33d1fc791ec39d9fb15096ad\"},\"description\":\"If you can ignore the mundane collection of repetitive biblical art, there is enough at The Vatican to intrigue even the most staunch of non-Christians.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg\",\"width\":580,\"height\":387,\"caption\":\"in the pursuit of | Vatican City\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"49. An Agnostic&#8217;s Guide to the Vatican\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"In the pursuit of...\",\"description\":\"A collection of tales written in the pursuit of freedom, inspiration, &amp; decadence.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/faf3bbba33d1fc791ec39d9fb15096ad\",\"name\":\"Avanti Young\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/avanti2-120x120.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/avanti2-120x120.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/avanti2-120x120.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Avanti Young\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.inthepursuitof.com.au\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/author\/v\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"In The Pursuit Of | The Vatican through Agnostic Eyes","description":"If you can ignore the mundane collection of repetitive biblical art, there is enough at The Vatican to intrigue even the most staunch of non-Christians.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"In The Pursuit Of | The Vatican through Agnostic Eyes","og_description":"If you can ignore the mundane collection of repetitive biblical art, there is enough at The Vatican to intrigue even the most staunch of non-Christians.","og_url":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/","og_site_name":"In the pursuit of...","article_published_time":"2014-08-02T06:45:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2014-11-03T00:32:37+00:00","og_image":[{"width":580,"height":387,"url":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Avanti Young","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Avanti Young","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/"},"author":{"name":"Avanti Young","@id":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/faf3bbba33d1fc791ec39d9fb15096ad"},"headline":"49. An Agnostic&#8217;s Guide to the Vatican","datePublished":"2014-08-02T06:45:45+00:00","dateModified":"2014-11-03T00:32:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/"},"wordCount":1235,"commentCount":1,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg","keywords":["honeymoon","Rome","Vatican"],"articleSection":["Italy"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/","url":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/","name":"In The Pursuit Of | The Vatican through Agnostic Eyes","isPartOf":{"@id":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg","datePublished":"2014-08-02T06:45:45+00:00","dateModified":"2014-11-03T00:32:37+00:00","author":{"@id":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/faf3bbba33d1fc791ec39d9fb15096ad"},"description":"If you can ignore the mundane collection of repetitive biblical art, there is enough at The Vatican to intrigue even the most staunch of non-Christians.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/vatican.jpg","width":580,"height":387,"caption":"in the pursuit of | Vatican City"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/vatican-agnostic-eyes\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"49. An Agnostic&#8217;s Guide to the Vatican"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#website","url":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/","name":"In the pursuit of...","description":"A collection of tales written in the pursuit of freedom, inspiration, &amp; decadence.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/faf3bbba33d1fc791ec39d9fb15096ad","name":"Avanti Young","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/avanti2-120x120.jpg","url":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/avanti2-120x120.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/avanti2-120x120.jpg","caption":"Avanti Young"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.inthepursuitof.com.au"],"url":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/author\/v\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2762"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3108,"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762\/revisions\/3108"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}