Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Two Hours At Orvieto's San Giovenale

Sometimes one's desire to see old things, things that have stood the test of time, etc., can lead astray. In 2017, we determined to see this little church, constructed in 1004, with 12th century frescoes, etc. Unfortunately we got there just in time for the three-hour lunch break, but resolved to come back another time. This was that time. We arrived at 5:30PM, observing the church's closing time of 6:30PM, and feeling good about our prospects. Unfortunately, we were unaware that there was a daily mass from 5-6:30, no visitors allowed. (The tourist bureau really should post this rather than merely saying the church is open from 3:00 to 6:30.) (Oh well). So, at 5:30 we elected to wait out the mass, thinking it surely would be over by 6:00. Think again, pagan-breath; and don't call me Shirley. We sat out in the windy chill mostly, occasionally sticking our heads in the door to hear the priestly mumbo-jumbo and see whether the final amen was near. At 6:45, the two priests and two nuns and perhaps twenty parishioners finally gave up. Vicki plopped a coin in the Divine Illumination Machine (DIM) while the amen was still echoing off the 11th century walls, and I began snapping pix of the frescoes, the best of which appear below. All in all, it was not so great, but at least we have the immense satisfaction of knowing there will be no third try for San Giovenale.







Note KKK types



The Maesta; methinks

Mini-Me

1 comment:

Tawana said...

The KKK probably did get their costume idea from this church. Who woulda thunk?