After the "Mostly Art and Some Food" tour finished with Cecilia, we headed back toward the apartment and had a late lunch. Everyone was bushed from all the walking/sightseeing (and dealing with elements of jet lag), so we went to the apartment to relax for a bit.
At 4pm, Carol, Maria, and Van decided to stay at the apartment until dinner. Julia and I went out to visit a couple of nearby churches.
The first one we went to was not far from the apartment -- a less than ten minute walk. When we walked into the Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle, we were blown away by a concert being given by a full choir and orchestra.
The music was enthralling. I think it was my favorite part of the trip to Rome -- the grandeur of the music, singing, and art was incredible, stupendous, fantastic, fabulous, tremendous, terrific, striking, impressive, outstanding, and even phenomenal.
(Editor: I think they get the idea.
Writer: I hope so, I'm trying to convey just amazing the experience was.)
The post below this one has two short videos showing the main parts of the church as the music swells. To get a sense of how fantastic it all was, give the videos a watch. Sound up.
Work on the church was started in 1590, then stopped upon the death of the original patron. It restarted by 1608. The dome was completed in 1627, and the whole interior was finished by 1650. The decorations of the dome set the standard for other churches built in the following decades. The Baroque facade was added between 1655 and 1663.
Julia and I left, feeling lucky that we had stumbled into such a dramatic concert and setting.
From there we struck out at a couple other churches that are closed for renovation. We did go into Sant-Agostino, which has a Caravaggio.
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