This article was specially written by a tour participant interested in personally publishing her unforgettable religious journey...

From world-reknowned art covering every inch of the walls to starkly plain masonry construction--that's what you will find on these two religious centers' tours.

My friends and I experienced two contrasting worlds of Christianity as we compared St. Peter's and the Vatican to the contemplative pace of life at Subiaco's St. Scholastica's Benedictine Monastery. We three women were able to view Pope Benedict XI up close at his traditional Wednesday morning audience before meeting our guide--the incomparable Antonio--for our four-hour private tour of the Vatican museums and the basilica. After meeting at our arranged location, we by-passed the hours worth of lines outside and Antonio immediately led us to halls and rooms full of Greek and Roman statuary, including the famous Laocoon group. I was especially fascinated with the forty Renaissance-era frescoed maps covering the walls in the Gallery of Maps. Next, we could not believe the lengthy walk through the area painted entirely in "trompe l'oeil"--the paintings looked as if they were statues, but they were all actually flat to the walls and ceilings! After a refreshment break under bowers of lilac bushes, we entered the magnificent Sistine Chapel. The wonderful thing about having a private guide, is that you can ask questions about what you are seeing and get immediate, knowledgeable answers, which is what Antonio provided us throughout our extensive tour.

After leaving the Sistine Chapel, we entered St. Peter's Basilica, again led straight in without waiting. Once inside, Antonio explained fascinating facts about the incredible sights--Michelangelo's Pieta, Bernini's lovely altarpiece, the gold-covered faces of actual popes' bodies in glass caskets, and the famous baldachin above the papal altar to name just a few. Viewing and learning about the hundreds of masterpieces "up close and personal" was a truly unique, fabulous experience. We three totally recommend it!

For the second tour, our driver picked us up at our hotel in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz. Stefano was such a personable, generous man and he spoke such excellent English that we chatted all the way on our one-and-a-half hour drive to the 11th-century monastery perched high on a hillside outside Subiaco. We toured the cathedral with it's stark walls and exterior hallways decorated in frescoes and geometric patterns, famous monks' library, and the campanile tower and flowering gardens. We also enjoyed a five-course lunch at the monastery's hotel restaurant. We devoured the best antipasti course we had on our entire 16-day trip to Italy. Later, we were served wild boar and wonderful freshly-picked and dressed greens. Delizioso ! After lunch, we each purchased several products made by the monks on the premises--soaps, hand cream, honey, and cookies--fun! We felt so fortunate to be able to explore and learn about the ancient and current way of life in a self-contained religious community.

As all three of us are quite well-traveled, it's a big deal to be able to say that this was absolutely the trip of a lifetime!!

The calm and serenity of the monastery of Subiaco

What a view!

Peering down an old well used by monks for centuries

Silence is golden and so was the day!

Walking the sacred hallways