Thursday, March 22, 2018

VERONA 2017: The Cathedral


As you may recall, after we spent a week in Venice last year, we took the train to Verona and spent 4 days there.  To be honest, even though very different from Venice, we loved it as much.

We saw so many churches in Verona, I don't even know where to start.  Actually, I did start, by showing its three fabulous basilicas last August.   But some of the other churches are worth their own posts, like the duomo, or cathedral:  Cattedrale Sante Maria Matricolare.  It's not the biggest or the best, but it is the city's main cathedral.

There it sits at the top, on the Adige River.

The west front of the cathedral shows the Sanmicheli bell tower in the background.

The cathedral was consecrated in 1187.

Outside the cathedral near the front door is this angel statue.

You can find myriad stock photos of it but I'm still searching for info on it.
[Addendum:  I found out from a Facebook friend that this is The Angel of Acceptance
or hospitality, by Albano Poli.]

Once inside, I always start with the nave and main chapel, with altar.

You know I always look for the organ (large and/or small) because of my musician mom.

And the chancel and pulpit....because of my preacher dad.

I suppose we were distracted by the renovation going on?

But we saw enough to be glad we had visited.
Here's a good link to much better images, especially of what we missed.

The Sanmicheli bell tower sticks out like a sore thumb, here at the Ponte Pietra bridge.

The next day we saw it from across the river while at the Roman Theater.

Like I said, it's not the best of the Verona churches we saw, but we wanted to see it.
And there will be at least one or more Verona churches to come....


12 comments:

  1. I love that angel statue! Worth a visit just to see it! Great photos as always, Ginnie.

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    1. I totally agree, Marie, and thank you kindly. I just wish I could find something about it. Still looking.

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  2. i noticed in the first pic of the angel statue, that picture of the bird with lion's feet or whatever... recall that story i told you about that kind of creature? i have never seen a statue of one tho!! and why would they put it in front of a church?? weirdness... but churches are weird anyway haha, know what i'm sayin'? :) lovely pictures, sister!!!

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    1. I'm sure the bird with a lion's body is symbolic in Roman Catholic iconography, Elaine, but I have no idea what. I'm sure it's something else that can be Googled. I've often said these Catholic churches/cathedrals are like museums for those of us who didn't grow up in them. It's true! Thanks for following along, with your RC background!

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  3. That was worth the walk over there. The statue of the angel is very well done. All the marble in the church was just amazing, but then they have enough of it in Italy. The view on the bridge and the bell tower is a classic. Great memories by seeing this wonderful post. IHVJ.

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    1. Bedankt, Astrid. I don't recall spending much time in that cathedral because of the renovation going on, but I'm glad we took the effort to see it. We really didn't want to miss anything, did we! :)

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  4. I love seeing all these photos of a place I've read about in literature!

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    1. It's fun, Ruth, isn't it. If I could take your literature knowledge and meld it with my photos, I'd be a happy camper. :)

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  5. I'm always in awe when I visit here. You two have such a wonderful luxury of visiting so much history and beauty in so many places. And as always, so appreciate you sharing it with all of us!

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    1. Most kind of you, Robin. I always feel the same way when tagging along on your own journeys, many of which I will never see with my own eyes. In this way we can partake of both worlds...and are therefore so lucky! Thank you.

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  6. Oh wow! Thank you for this post. I think more than one day in Verona is necessary. Probably better to make Verona the base.

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    1. We were there for 4 days and could have spent longer, Maria. You definitely need more than ONE day!

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