Genoa - Lovely Lady

Part of what I understand the place and purpose of the Saints are within the Christian tradition is this: they are people to look up to and admire as being someone we can relate to. With this in mind, this is probably the first image of St Mary that I really feel a connection to. She's got puffy round cheeks like mine and I could totally do my hair like that. I've always had a curious respect for the Virgin, though I would hardly call myself Marian.

Wikipedia link to the Church of S Peitro di Banchi in Italian or English
Wikipedia link to Mary (mother of Jesus) here
Feast of the Annunciation - 25 Mar

taken June 2010 - Church of S Peitro di Banchi, Genoa

Genoa - rapturous details

I still haven't figured out which said this is... he's pictured tied by the wrists, arms above his head, to a tree. He has been stripped bare (save a conveniently and modestly placed cloth) and his armour has been propped up against the tree beside him. His sword is still sheathed and leaning against his armour, and his feet are resting on his shield. My best guess would be Saint Alban, but as Alban is an English saint, I could be very wrong.

This whole church is beautiful and seems so clean. Everything seems to be white, and the exceptionally high ceiling allows the clear glass windows to beam in lots of light. This is one of the most comfortable big churches I have ever been in, and I would highly recommend it to anyone needing some space and quiet. Because there are soooo many churches in Genoa, they seem to rotate who gets what funding and patronage. Unfortunately, Basilica Carignano is falling into disrepair. This is a shame, as it is very beautiful... but to every thing there is a season.

Wikipedia link in Italian or English

taken June 2010 - Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, Genoa

Genoa - Zaccaria

This lovely statue was one of four in a niche. Zaccaria, Stefano, Elisabetta and Giovanni. If I'm reading the card right. they are from the 17thc. Hurrah!

The statues at this basilica were absolutely stunning. I say this because they are completely up my alley as it were. I love the flowing lines of the cloth, and the near-human reality of the expressions.


Wikipedia link to Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta in Italian or English
Wikipedia link to St Zechariah (priest) here (feast day Nov 5th)

taken June 2010 - Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, Genoa

Genoa - best story ever

One of the afternoons I spent wandering around inside the old walled city, I found myself walking down a lane beside one of the basilicas. No really, I came out of the Annunciation to Mary Basilica, turned right and started walking down the lane. I found myself impressed that there were people still milling about the streets here as it was seista time. Then it dawned on me... I wasn't just walking down any lane, the people around me weren't just randomly out... no, no... I was walking past the front of a bordello.

Yup, in Italy, it's okay to sell business between 9-6. After dark, it's illegal, but during daylight what you can sell is allowed legally to be bought. There were three ladies who were dressed up as if to go clubbing, one at each end of the street and one at the middle where an ally connects. (I passed by this area again a day later and the three same women were still at their posts... no really.)

So, here I am, keeping a tourist-style I'm-looking-at-the-architecture-style walk, while inside my head I'm laughing at myself, while also trying not to look at any of the people. Oh my poor little brain... how you almost exploded!

Just as I reach the end of the lane, I slow to decide which way to turn. This is the point where Anna=fail. There was a fourth lady which I hadn't noticed sitting, I don't know where, who appeared out of the ether. I continued to look up and noticed the lovely sculpture above. And now is the point which I really really really wish I spoke Italian. This Madame decided to chat with me. I don't really know whether she was trying to sell her 'goods' to me, or if she was trying to tell me the details of the sculpture... I don't think I will ever know. All I could think was "Gahh! I don't know what you're talking about so I'm going to nod and smile and stare at the sculpture." This thought was followed quickly by "Get me outta here!"

I still to this day don't actually know what happened. I do however have a lovely picture of a nice bit of religious art and a brain that still goes 'pop' every time I think of that afternoon.

taken June 2010 - Side of a building, Genoa

Genoa - Lady in a bath tub

On the second story of most buildings in the old part of Genoa, there were icons of some fashion or other. Some of them were painted on, some were on a carved bit of stone and some were full sculptures. There seemed to be several favoured saints; George and Mary being the two I most easily recognised.

I'm not exactly certain which saint is pictured above. As there is no veil and she's holding some kind of urn, I know it's not the Virgin Mary (in any of her variety of roles). My guess would be Mary Magdalene, carrying the oil she will wash the feet of Jesus with. In any case, this picture shows the feature which one of my Category Widows referred to as 'the bathtub'. You'll notice that behind the sculpture there is a lovely concaved indent fashioned to best draw your attention to the saint on show... this indent is normally either left a clean stone or painted light blue. Yup, saints in bathtubs - Italian stylin' at it's finest!

taken June 2010 - Side of a residence... don't know who's though, Genoa