 |
| On the road - very hilly countryside |
 |
| Patrizia gave us some info along the way |
 |
| After about an hour drive, we arrived in Subiaco |
 |
| The monastery is built high above the town |
 |
| The road up is steep and winding - our bus driver did a marvelous job! |
 |
| Once parked, we still had quite a climb! |
 |
| Once in the monastery courtyard, we did a lot of photos as we caught our breath |
 |
| Bill shoots Deborah & Sid |
 |
| Bill & Cheryl |
 |
| Theresa & Bob |
 |
| Sally & Linda |
 |
| Our guide & Patrizia |
 |
| Bob |
 |
| Linda & Cindy |
 |
| David |
 |
| Sue & Vanessa with a photo bomb from Bob |
 |
| Amy & Caroline |
 |
| Fr Vince, Amy & Caroline |
 |
| Cindy shoots Linda, Nancy, and Sally |
 |
| Tony & Sandy, Sharon & Steve (and photo bomb Bob) |
 |
| Yon & William |
 |
| Vicky & Dan |
 |
| Inside the Abbey is filled with art telling various stories of the faith |
 |
| Looking out a window just outside the chapel |
 |
| The outside of the Abbey from the courtyard |
 |
| Looking out a window near the chapel |
 |
| The river Aniene runs just below the Abbey |
 |
| The chapel where we had mass |
 |
| The chapel where we had mass |
 |
| Nancy read the epistle |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| The back wall of the chapel just after mass |
 |
| The stairs just outside the chapel |
 |
| The cave where St Benedict lived is preserved to give the brothers a link to the past |
 |
| The small altar in the cave "chapel" |
 |
| The walls are covered in art |
 |
| This hilltop chapel across the valley is visible thanks to the zoom lens! |
 |
| When St Francis or Assisi visited, this drawing was made of him and may be one of the most accurate ever made |
 |
| The door leads into the Chapel |
 |
| Our Guide Fr Domoriccio and Fr Vince |
 |
| The body of one of the friars |
 |
| This altar is at the bottom of the Holy Stairs and is the traditional entrance for pilgrims |
 |
| The Holy Stairs |
 |
| This alcove venerates the Blessed Virgin |
 |
| Mary protects the Church under her Mantle |
 |
| The slaughter of the innocents |
 |
| The coronation |
 |
| The presentation |
 |
| Pieta |
 |
| These two murals relate that death knows no respect for earthly station |
 |
| - it comes to the rich as well as the poor |
 |
| The top of the Holy Stairs |
 |
| Many of the murals speak to Holy Martyrdom |
 |
| Note that this pulpit has many symbols - including a Star of David |
 |
| The scourging at the pillar |
 |
| The charter of eth Benedictine order |
 |
| St Francis receives the stigmata (the marks of Jesus' crucifixion) |
 |
| Another view of the Marian alcove |
 |
| The stairs leading from the traditional entry |
 |
| The small garden just outside the chapel area |
 |
| Another small chapel |
 |
| Close up of the cross in the small chapel |
 |
| The wall mural and ambo in the main hallway |
 |
| The wonderful small gift shop |
 |
| Bob bought two bottles of liqueur and some candy in addition to a replica of the St Francis drawing (just the face) |
 |
| The Monastery of St Scholastica is just down the hill |
 |
| The walk down was easier! Sharon, Sandy, Steve & Tony |
 |
| Fr Vince |
 |
| Vanessa & Sally |
 |
| Bob |
 |
| Rurg & George - Terry in background |
 |
| Thersa |
 |
| Sue & Julie |
 |
| This set of statuary is atop a small hill near the base of the path. |
 |
| Bob takes a short rest |
 |
| As did Terry |
 |
| The Aniene River runs through Subiaco |
 |
| We were to learn later that the Aniene is tapped here to feed the magnificent garden fountains of Tivoli where we headed next |
 |
| Through the magnificent countryside - hard to believe we are only a few miles from Rome! |
 |
| A monument to those who have fought for Italy |
 |
| Near the bus stop there are many small tent merchants with tourist stuff - much of it made in China |
 |
| Tivoli is a very small village with a nice main piazza |
 |
| We passed through the main square and walked down another block or so to a small piazza just outside the entrance to the gardens |
 |
| At this small bistro, we had a taste of wine and bread in olive oil |
 |
| Many of us liked the wine and chose to stay and eat a bite - here Linda and Youn and behind them Cindy & Nancy seated with Steve & Sharon. Dan to the left |
 |
| Another shot showing Ruth & William |
 |
| Dan & Vicky |
 |
| Bev & Renee with Cheryl & Bill |
 |
| Deborah with David, George, Beth, and Bob behind |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Bob & Theresa |
 |
| An interesting modern fountain in the courtyard just outside Vill d'Este |
 |
| Renee, Bill, Cheryl& Bev |
 |
| Barb & Terry |
 |
| Our guide |
 |
| We gather in the courtyard of what was once a monastery |
 |
| Sharon |
 |
| Beautiful art in and near the Villa |
 |
| The gardens are built on four tiers with the Villa being at the top |
 |
| Theresa |
 |
| The second tier has a beautiful gentle fountain that runs the length of the landing |
 |
| The next level down has a set of fountains reminding the viewer of the sights of Rome - here the barque from Spanish Steps |
 |
| The Neptune Fountain |
 |
| The she wolf suckles Romulus & Remus |
 |
| The next level down |
 |
| The dragon fountain |
 |
| The gentle steps in the side rails keep the water velocity under control |
 |
| An ancient and huge Cyprus tree |
 |
| Theresa |
 |
| Bill & Cheryl |
 |
| This long trio of pools frames a large fountain (see below) |
 |
| This small fountain is tucked in behind the large fountain and is very cool all the time - natural air conditioning |
 |
| The Cyprus tree |
 |
| The statue of Diana, Goddess of Fertility is the Roman version of Artemis, the Greek God that Paul faced in Ephesus. |
 |
| The main attraction was this huge fountain! |
 |
| The big fountain was very popular for photos! Here Bob & Theresa |
 |
| Caroline & Fr Vince |
 |
| Youn, Fr Vince & William |
 |
| Sally & Vanessa |
 |
| Nancy & Cindy |
 |
| Dan & Vicky |
 |
| Fr Vince & Ruth |
 |
| Beth & George |
 |
| Beth enjoys delicious spring water |
 |
| In the upper courtyard, we noticed these black roses and noted we needed some gold ones! |
 |
| Immediately adjacent to the Villa is St Mary Major church |
 |
| The beautiful nave |
 |
| Statue of the Sacred Heart |
 |
| Back through the main piazza |
 |
| Barb |
 |
| And past Rocco - the Rock / Fortress |
 |
| Back in Rome, we ate ate a local restaurant. Bev, Zach, Alden (Bev's Grand daughter) & Renee |
 |
| The restaurant was nice looking but the food was mediocre and the service was poor. Plus, they rushed us since they had another group coming. Here Theresa, Tony, Sandy, Ruth, Sharon, Steve, and Linda |
 |
| Theresa, Tony, Sandy, Ruth, Sharon, Steve, & Linda |
 |
| David, Dan Cindy (looking away), Vanessa(?), Julie, Amy, Sue, Sally, William, Youn, Barb, & Terry. Patrizia standing in background |
 |
| Bill (back to camera), George, Beth, Caroline, fr Vince, Deborah (hidden), Sid, & Cheryl |
 |
| Our bus picked us up across the street in front of the Church of San Giovanni Batista dei Florentini |
Tomorrow, ari viderci Roma - Off to Siena!
No comments:
Post a Comment