What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Bologna? Bologne, food, Italy, etc…
Well there’s also a selection of churches, museums and yes more leaning towers. I saw an incredible statue carved by Michealangelo and Nicola Pisano in the church of San Domenico. It was a magnificent piece of artistry. Very powerful and then I walked around it to the back and there was the bones of St. Domenico inside a reliquery. Wam Bam thank you M’am! It was pretty much awesome.
Then we went to the Santa Maria dei Servi in which is contained the Madonna and Child painted over 800 years ago by Cimabue. Imagine how much it has been destructed and how many people have seen prayed, cried, shouted, kissed, blessed, etc, in front of that painting over 800 years. It adds a lot of meaning to things when you think like that. I’ve learned to think like that when visting church after church after church.. it can get old, but each is special in it’s own way and impacted a selection of people lives and gave meaning to someone somewhere. It’s really interesting and you don’t have to be religious to understand that.
To answer your question, OF COURSE I climbed up one of the leaning towers. 500 steps up there baby. That means I climbed 1,000 steps altogether. The view that high is always delicious and I never want to leave.
I had the best gelato since I’ve been here. SO, go to Bologna if you want the best gelato.
Then we took a train to Rimini, a town on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. We stayed in Hostel Jammin’. It was very affordable: 18 euro/night for a four person room with private bathroom, fresh sheets, and breakfast in the morning.
The first night we got there very late becasue we got lost after getting off the train. We got lost for an hour and a half. haha We ate at a nice restaurant called The Bounty. The service was excellent, the environment comfortable, the food delicious, the beer cold, and the music acceptable. What more could you ask for?
The next day we spent at the beach. The sun was bright, it was a gorgeous day and I was ready to strip down to my bathing suit and take the beach by storm. So that’s exactly what I did. I took in some sun and jumped in and out of the water. It was a little chilly, but you know how that goes. It’s just cold in the beginning and then you get used to it. We were out there all day and then went back to the hostel and took a nap and then came back out for dinner and to celebrate St. Patty’s Day the American way.
The Bounty was pleased to receive us for a second time that weekend. This night we ate better. I had the best tortellini that has ever graced my palate. AMAZING, I can’t stop thinking about it. It was stuffed with cheese and assorted seafood and tossed in a creamy cheese seafood vegetable sauce. Oh! out of this world. We laughed and laughed and laughed and then danced and danced and danced. The next morning we woke up and were sufficiently worn out from the weekend and made our way back home by lunchtime.
Wonderful…..
Bologna, Rimini, and Eight Lovely Ladies
March 21, 2007
Assisi
First stop!!!!! The Basilica of St. Francis: built 1228, two years after the death of St. Francis. I’m sure you can deduce that it was built in his memory. This basilica comemorated his life dedicated to the simple life, in his belief, closer to God. St. Francis started life with his wealthy family and then renounced all his material possessions. He started the Franciscan Friar movement, if you will, and his tomb is kept in the crypt below the lower church.
The Basilica is composed of an upper and a lower Chapel in which many famous artists were commissioned to contribute including, Giotto, Simone Martini, Peter Lorenzetti, and Cimabue. Giotto’s fame in the Basilica is The Cycle of the Life of St. Francis which can be viewed in a series of panels in the upper church. The other artists have tramcets devoted to their work in the lower church.
The lower church gave the idea of protection when I walked in. It was painted mostly in a deep blue with huge dramatic arched ceilings. this was the only place that we have been to in which the Silence Law was striclty enforeced. It really makes a difference in the experience. Silence makes the impact a greater magnitude, possibly because your imagination can take you back a few hundred years faster in silence than not. The Upper Church was much brighter, painted in shades of white and adorned with Giotto’s work. Jesus felt like more of a friend in this church rather than a judge. I really enjoyed the visit here.
Second Stop!!!! The Basilica of St. Claire: St. Claire was the closest friend to St. Francis and started a nunnery. They are built near each other in Assisi and St. Claire’s is built in beautiful pink marble with several buttresses cascading down from the left side. It’s a beautiful story as I’m sure you can imagine. Best friends renouncing their material possessions for a life devoted to nature and God, gaining followers along their journey, dying and being honored by these enormous and beautiful Basilicas and their way of life maintained and their message passed on for hundreds and hundreds of years. Ain’t bad if you ask me.
Third Stop!!!! San Damiano: This was the Church the St. Francis frequented in Assisi. The walk to here was all downhill, which made the walk back really challenging, but onward… I was taken away on the wind, through the trees. It was gorgeous. I didn’t go inside the Church because I felt that St. Francis owuld have stayed outside. Weird, I know, but it was a sensation that came over me and I followed. I walked down a path in the park around the church and admired the statues of St. Francis; I found a solitary place in the woods where the sun shown down and sat and relaxed in silence. It was really nice. Empowering. Nature is baffling, miraculous if you look closer. I can’t say much about this experience because it was truly, very personal.
The important thing is that Assisi was beautiful and is a great day trip to embark upon.
Subscribe to this feed