You can always spot the people who have just exited the Vatican Museums or the Ducal Palace. It's all in the eyes – that vacant stare similar to the end of a Godfather trilogy marathon. Always scared to look up lest they see yet another full-length ceiling mural. You've probably experienced it, too. Once you've seen one duke's version of opulence, decadence, grandeur, and power, you've seen them all. Take one part famous painter, one part life-size statues, sprinkle with a pinch of gold inlays and garnish with putti up the wazoo. Et voila!
A wiser man than I might say it's a mistake to tour Italy with an art connoisseur when you yourself are not too fond of museums. But sometimes you do funny things for someone, like saying “Sure, I'd love to tour the Museo Nationale de Art Moderne after we see the Vatican Museums!” Or the even more outrageous, “You're right, our dinner reservation is not for another half hour. That gives us plenty of time to quickly browse the Museo Capitale!”
Sure you would rather be seeing the Roman Baths, or the Trastevere neighborhoods. But at least she's happy. At least, that's what you say after the 5th museum. It's a different story after you run out of fingers to count museums on. “I'll sit this one out – let's meet up in 3 hours” becomes more appropriate. And when you do meet up after 3 hours, that vacant stare she exhibits just after seeing the entire history of western art in one afternoon is simply priceless…