Thursday 18 December 2008

Advent in the Eternal City

Later today the Cathedral will take delivery of its Christmas trees - a little earlier than we would really like, but this is the last day the delivery men are working! They will be placed in the Cathedral, but not lit until the celebration of Christmas begins. Meanwhile this picture shows the tree in St Peter's Square in the Vatican, which stands a record 33m (108ft) tall.

There has been plenty of rain in Rome of late, with the river Tiber running dangerously high. This picture, taken a few days ago, shows Castel Sant'Angelo and the Ponte Sant'Angelo, a short walk from the Vatican. A boat, unable to pass under the bridge due to the high water level, can be seen through the arches.