Mailing A Postcard From the Vatican Post Office

The Vatican Post Office must make most of its revenue from tourists, because upon exiting St. Peter's Basilica you'll quickly notice the yellow post box and loads of people eager to mail their postcards home from the world's smallest country. Naturally we had to partake, and chose postcards featuring the dome of St. Peter's (after just finishing the dome climb). It took nearly a month, but both postcards arrived safely (and stamped) from Vatican City. 

Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola in Rome, Italy

The Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola is a magnificent Baroque church located in Rome, dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Built between 1626 and 1650, the church was designed by Jesuit architect Orazio Grassi and is renowned for its grand architecture, illusionistic ceiling frescoes, and its significance in Jesuit history.

The church was constructed as the Jesuit order grew in prominence, and it was meant to honor both Saint Ignatius and the ideals of the Counter-Reformation. From the outside, the façade is elegant and harmonious, reflecting Baroque principles of balance and drama. However, the church’s true splendor is revealed inside.

The interior is richly decorated with marble, gilding, and intricate stucco, but its most famous feature is the ceiling fresco by Andrea Pozzo, a Jesuit brother and master of perspective painting. His fresco, The Apotheosis of Saint Ignatius, creates the illusion of a soaring, open sky above the nave, filled with angels, saints, and divine light. Pozzo used trompe-l'œil (trick of the eye) techniques to make the flat ceiling appear as a vast dome, fooling the viewer’s perception.

Another highlight is the “fake dome” over the crossing, painted after plans for a real dome were abandoned due to funding. Pozzo again used perspective painting to create the illusion of a dome when viewed from a specific spot marked on the floor.

Sant’Ignazio is more than just a church; it is a testament to the Jesuits’ commitment to art, education, and spirituality. It remains a popular destination for visitors to Rome, not only for its religious significance but also for its breathtaking artistic achievement and theatrical Baroque style that invites reflection and awe.

 

Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas

Opened in 2020, Circa is a hotel and casino located along the famed Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to being the tallest building downtown, Circa is the first new hotel and casino to be built in downtown Las Vegas since 1980. Several of Circa's claims to fame are its impressive Stadium Swim, and its relocation of the Vegas Vickie neon sign (that once advertised Glitter Gulch) into the hotel's lobby.