The Vatican Gardens and the Sistine Chapel all in one morning!

Entering the Vatican Gardens wasn't as difficult as imagined: there was a long line but it was a matter of a few seconds and we were inside, with our tickets and headphones, listening to our guide.

First we visited the beautiful gardens, from where our students enjoyed a nice view of Rome, in particular over the most famous attractions of the city, such as the Pantheon or Villa Borghese; not to talk about Saint Peter's cupola, which was kinda in the front-row, dominating the other buildings.

As we walked silently through the path, surrounded by roses and hedges, fountains and covered ivy walls, the students listened carefully to our guide, who told them about the history of the verdant gardens. 

And then, at the end, we admired the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, with its beautiful courtyard and fountain right behind it.

At the end, after a little break, we went to see what I think everyone was waiting to see more than anything else: the Sistine Chapel, refurbished by many famous Italian painters.

As imagined, the chapel was really crowded, but that didn't prevent us to lift our heads and look at the magnificent ceiling (and secretly take some pictures).