Sunday, November 25, 2018

Cathedral of Syracuse/Duomo di Siracusa

Cathedral of Syracuse/Duomo di Siracusa
Syracusa, Sicily, Italy
Cattedrale metropolitana della Natività di Maria Santissima

Cathedral of Syracuse is located in Sicily
Cathedral of Syracuse
Shown within Sicily
Basic information
Geographic coordinates37°03′35″N 15°17′36″ECoordinates37°03′35″N 15°17′36″E
RegionSicily
CountryItaly
Architectural description
Architectural typeCathedral
Architectural styleSicilian Baroque
UNESCO World Heritage site
Part ofSyracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica
CriteriaCultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Reference1200-003
Inscription2005 (29th Session)
"The Cathedral of Syracuse (Duomo di Siracusa), formally the Cattedrale metropolitana della Natività di Maria Santissima, is an ancient Catholic church in Syracuse, Sicily, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Siracusa. Its structure is originally a Greek doric temple, and for this reason it is included in a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2005.[1] The cathedral stands in the city's historic core on Ortygia Island." (Link 1)


Duomo Frontal Statue

"The present cathedral was constructed by Saint Bishop Zosimo of Syracuse in the 7th century. The battered Doric columns of the original temple were incorporated in the walls of the current church. They can be seen inside and out.[3] The building was converted into a mosque in 878, then converted back when Norman Roger I of Sicily retook the city in 1085. The roof of the nave is of Norman origin, as well as the mosaics in the apses.
"As part of the increased building activity after the 1693 Sicily earthquake, the cathedral was rebuilt and the façade redesigned by architect Andrea Palma in 1725–1753. The style is classified as High Sicilian Baroque, a relatively late example. The double order of Corinthian columns on the facade provide a classic example of carved Acanthus leaves in the capitals. Sculptor Ignazio Marabitti contributed the full-length statues on the facade.
"The interior of the church, a nave and two aisles, combine rustic walls and Baroque details. Features include a font with marble basin dating from the 12th or 13th century, a ciborium (an altar canopy) designed by architect Luigi Vanvitelli, and a statue of the Madonna della Neve ("Madonna of the Snow", 1512) by Antonello Gagini."(Link 1.)

Duomo Pillar Detail

Duomo fountain

Ortigia (/ɔːrˈtɪiə/Italian: OrtigiaGreekὈρτυγία) is a small iss from the Ancient Greek ortyx (ὄρτυξ), which means "Quail". (Link 2,)landwhich is the historical centre of the city of SyracuseSicily. The island, also known as Città Vecchia (Old City), contains many historical landmarks. The name originate
*******
Photos: Taken in Sept. 2018 by RW while travelling to Italy for the L'Eroica Classic Bike Race.
Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Syracuse
Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortygia

                                                                          Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Church in Lecchi in Chianti, Sienna, Tuscany, Italy

Church in Lecchi in Chianti 
Sienna, Tuscany, Italy

"South of Radda, Lecchi in Chianti lies at the foot of a hill surmounted by the tumbledown castle of Monteluco. The quaint hamlet is lined along the main road which rises upto Ama. With its distinctive stone houses and dignified church, this backwater looks much as it did in medieval times. It was then an area of great estates linked to landowners such as the Ricasoli wine barons. Crowning the hill is Monteluco castle, which dates back to 1176. The castle was a Sienese bastion but battered in attacks in the 15th and 16th centuries. The fortifications feature a ruined hilltop fort surveying the Massellone valley, backed by a limestone watchtower below. Local walks link Lecchi to the lovely hamlet of San Sano, complete with home-cooking in a quiet inn. Trails through vineyards fan out from Lecchi, including a walk to Localita Molinaccio for a summer swim in river pools." (Link 1.)

Church Shrine


Church Plaque

Notes by RW:  This town, about 35 miles from Florence, was where Florence sent its undesirables to be exiled.  Specifically they sent them to what was called the Marlboro Ghetto.  The Malborghetto is now a well known restaurant.  The church, now seemingly in active, was the church of the exiled undesirables.

Poster at Malborghetto Restaurant:  "The Restaurant's name, Malboroghetto, comes from the Renaissance Period where the word was used to indicate border outposts where evil doers and politicians too famous to be killed were sent. ...."
Church Wall and Steeple
**********

Photos: Taken in Sept. 2018 by RW while travelling to Italy for the L'Eroica Classic Bike Race.
Link 1: https://www.to-tuscany.com/travel-guide/towns-villages/central-tuscany/lecchi-in-chianti/
Link 2: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g616196-d1490967-Reviews-Ristorante_Malborghetto-

                                                                          Prayer


God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Sunday, November 11, 2018



Chiesa San Filippo Apostolo

Chiesa San Filippo Apostolo
Siracusa, Sicily, Italy


Church Sign

"This church offers splendid guided tours of what lies underneath - and is not to be missed, in my humble opinion. First you descend to the crypt, Further down are what appear to be miles of passageways extending in all directions, in which thousands of people took refuge during World War 2 bombings. At bottom is the piece de resistance: a mikvah (Jewish ritual bath) dating from the era when Siracusa had a sizable Jewish population. This unprepossessing small church is one of the highlights of Ortigia."(Link 1.)


Sanctuary


Altar

Relic

"This church offers splendid guided tours of what lies underneath - and is not to be missed, in my humble opinion. First you descend to the crypt, Further down are what appear to be miles of passageways extending in all directions, in which thousands of people took refuge during World War 2 bombings. At bottom is the piece de resistance: a mikvah (Jewish ritual bath) dating from the era when Siracusa had a sizable Jewish population. This unprepossessing small church is one of the highlights of Ortigia."(Link 1.)
*********
Photos: Taken in october 2018 with an Iphone by RW while visiting Italy.
Link  11:https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g187891-d6738036-Reviews-Chiesa_di_San_Filippo_Apostolo-Syracuse_P
Link  2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse,_Sicily
Link 3:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortygia
                                                                         Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)