Category / Adventure!

by canddaway

Lucca

We loved the peaceful city with its massive, tunnelled, red defensive walls and flat roads full of bicycles. We walked the 4km wall then wandered through the city until we reached the Anfiteatro, a piazza built on the ruins of the 2nd century Roman amphitheatre.

The piazza retains the elliptical shape and four original entrances to the Roman site. It was a lovely, sheltered spot to enjoy a glass of wine and a pizza as the evening drew on.

We ended our day at a concert of Puccini and Verdi arias. It felt particularly good to hear Puccini’s music in the town where he was born in 1858.

by canddaway

Lucchese labyrinth

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We are staying in the Lucchese plain between Lucca and Florence. Yesterday we set off to explore the first of these. The focus of the trip was to encounter the Duomo of San Martino with its late 12th century labyrinth carved into the right pier of the porch.

We arrived to discover the porch covered in scaffolding and white plastic netting. Someone had created a hole in the netting through which the labyrinth could be viewed at a distance. Disappointing, but still hoping for closer access next visit.

N.B. A cut has been made in the stone of the labyrinth making it difficult to negotiate the outer circuit. Otherwise it is a perfect 11 circuit medieval labyrinth.

by canddaway

Pace

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One of the frescos attributed to Giotto in the Upper Basilica of St Francis in Assisi gave pause for reflection on an issue of our day. It shows Francis meeting the Sultan of Egypt, Melek el Kamil, a man he developed a good friendship with. For Francis all persons were sisters and brothers whatever their culture, tradition, beliefs or nationality.

The implications of holding such a view might well affect our own praxis of politics, hospitality and spirituality.

by canddaway

Pilgrimage

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We took the path out of Porta Cappuccini and began our walk up the slope of Mount Subasio towards the caves above Assisi that St Francis and his brothers used as a hermitage.

It was a lovely day for our journey and as we arrived at Eremo Delle Carceri, now a small friary, we felt greeted by the loud bird song in the oak trees all around us.

We finished the day inside the huge Basilica di Santa Maria Angeli, 4 km from Assisi, where we spent some time in the Porziuncola, the nucleus of the first Franciscan monastery, and the Cappella del Transito where St Francis died in 1226. The frescoes by Lo Spagna were movingly beautiful.

by canddaway

Pasqua

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We walked the empty streets of Assisi in the early morning as white haze gave way to an azure sky and bells began to ring out over the town.

The Basilica di S.Chiara was quiet and moving in its simple beauty. The Basilica di S.Francesco quite overwhelmed the senses with its stunning frescoed walls and vaults, celebratory music and crowds of worshippers. We both ‘had a moment’.

A very happy Easter to all followers of our blog. Pace.

by canddaway

Assisi

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Late morning we set out on a walk and by chance found ourselves on the St Francis Way. It was a lovely spring day and as we continued along the path we saw Assisi spreading across the lower slopes of Mount Subasio.

We walked on and up through the medieval streets to the imposing castle of Rocca Maggiore with its splendid views over the town and Spoleto valley below.

We left as the fiery red disc of the sun began to set.

by canddaway

Old flag stays

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For those who have been followers of canddaway.com since we were travelling in New Zealand, you may remember there was a referendum in December 2015 to choose a potentially new national flag from a shortlist of five designs.

The winning design (above right) was due to be pitted against the current flag (above left) in a second vote this month to decide which would be New Zealand’s national flag moving into the future.

Well the promised second referendum has taken place today and the status quo won by 56.6% to 43.2%. An interesting article on referendum outcomes ran in the online Guardian today. The issue remains topical for the UK as we face the vote on whether to remain in the EU. The question is will the status quo win the day in that vote?

by canddaway

Roma

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We met with friends to spend the day exploring some of the remaining buildings of Ancient Rome.

The 50,000-seat Colossium was a marvel of engineering. All sections of society gathered in seating appropriate to their status to enjoy the animal hunts, gladiatorial contests, executions and mythological theatre that took place there.

The Forum, a market place, civic centre and religious complex, was vast and we wandered the ruins till we came across the site of the Temple of Vesta and the nearby remains of the house and garden of the Vestal Virgins who served the Temple. The main role of these six priestesses was to keep alight the public fire that was to burn perpetually as a symbol of the city’s life force. They also looked after sacred objects and celebrated annual festivals.

A fascinating end to our stay in Rome.

by canddaway

Musei

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Across the room he looked very much like the current 007. Close up it was definitely a statue of Emporer Claudius.

There was so much to take in as we trouped with hundreds of others around the many Vatican museums. The Pinacoteca or papal picture gallery drew us to a work by Melozzo da Forli (1438-1494) ‘Musician Angels’, part of a huge fresco taken from the church of SS.Apostoli.

In the Sistine Chapel we stood then sat for a long time. Michaelangelo’s vault was extraordinarily beautiful. The Sibyl of Delphi and the prophet Isaiah were particularly breathtaking.

I wonder how many people have pondered the gap between the loosened fingers of the Creator and Adam?

 

(image of Sibyl of Delphi from a photo of a picture)