This place was SO worth visiting, for me. After reading about lengthy waits to enter we were planning on skipping it, but by some chance the line was really short when we walked by, so we figured we’d check it out, even though we were still skeptical about how good it could really be.

We were herded in, and stood there, crammed like sardines (this is not an exaggeration), all craning our necks straight up to see the ceiling. There was nowhere to sit, and you had to shove through people to move anywhere.

But it was absolutely breathtaking. I know nothing whatsoever about art, and never much cared, but I just felt I was looking at something really special, and suddenly I understood what all the “fuss” is about.

I’m not sure how long we ended up standing there, but it was a long time, and certainly not long enough.

If I ever visit Rome again in my life, I’ll stand in however long a line to see this once more.