I took RoRo to one my favorite churches - Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome. These are the things I treasure about this beloved, ancient, sacred building.
1. The outside wall consists of Ancient Roman graffiti samples - carved into stone. Now those are some dedicated youth with a message! And there are some beautiful patterned pieces too.
2. Walking across the square at night, the fountain babbling, the cobbles quietly gleaming, the piazza to myself, if only for a moment.
3. The Byzantine mosaics. One on the facade, another breathtaking one above the altar - azure blue, saintly gold and pasture green.
4. The kitsch statue of St. Anthony - Saint of Lost Things. The mountains of tightly folded messages and pleas abundantly rained all about him, flowers and tokens of respect scattered lovingly.
If ever you have the chance to visit dear old Rome, this church is well worth a visit and hardly off the beaten path. I love the occasional illustration carved into these marble slabs - look out for the odd crude anatomical reference - the Romans were notorious for small boy humour...
However, I can't write this post and leave out the most magical church i've ever experienced in Italy - the chiesa di Viterbo - located in the almost entirely medieval natural springs town of Viterbo just outside of Rome. The floor is made of rough mosaic chips, the lofty ceiling of raw beams with gothic writing in black and gold, the pews as plain as can be. One could almost imagine it has been this way since it was first built. Viterbo being one of those high up hill towns, the views from the church onto the village gardens below is a sight to behold. This photo doesn't do it justice!
No comments:
Post a Comment