A day with spectacular skies. After K’s cab picked him up, I visited the Cathedral of San Rufino and then returned to the Basilica of St Francis where I listened to an audio presentation (the entire thing!) about the frescoes.
Enjoyed the climb back, stopping to buy some lovely linen towels.
Learned a new word today and already it’s coming in handy – gimcrackery.
You cannot belief all the religious gewgaws for sale! Pure gimcrackery!
I actually want one of these.
Lunch out but salad fixings bought for dinner. You’ll see the edge of a book below on Saint Clare. Almost done. She didn’t just take vows of poverty, she became poverty itself. Or so they say.
Started reading a new book (by John Boynes) and got down to work writing as well. Three chapters pruned, refined.
Now I return to San Rufino to observe a ritual involving the removal of the statue of Christ — perhaps in preparation for Good Friday’s procession?
And lest we forget, here’s Saint Francis himself.
I love traveling with you 💖💖
Glad you’re along, Kristin!
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Santa Fe, New Mexico. There used to be a wonderful bronzed statue of St. Francis in the old Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in the downtown center of the city. The statue was by Monika Kaden, titled St. Francis Dancing on the Water. It was placed in a fountain and was a delight because St. Francis was depicted with wings for arms outstretched, leg lifted up in joyful dance. You couldn’t help but smile when you saw this stature. Sadly ,the last few times that I have been in Santa Fe, it appears to have been removed. Another more austere statue of St. Francis with a wolf is in front of the Cathedral but it doesn’t have that same feeling of joyful freedom…
The first statue sounds so amazing, it’s a shame it was taken down. Today one of my favorite frescoes was of him feeding the birds. Story has it that the birds spread their wings and then grabbed Saint Francis’s robe with their beaks.
ahhh! I love Rufino. That was the only place I felt a bit haunted. Every pic was filled with orbs.
Lunch looks delish, as does the salad. Amazing the difference in quality there vs here. But gewgaws ARE everywhere. At least you won’t see a donald bobble head. (hehe)
How funny arethose friar tchotchkes? They would look good with a soft boiled egg.
I imagine the residency is perfect for a focused morning work and then out to explore in the afternoon. There is a lovely hiking trail behind that wall by St. Francis. I imagine it is even more beautiful in the spring. If you see any of the ginestelle in bloom take a pic for me, okay? One day I will get there before the chill sets in. 🙂 And be sure to see the grotto! A thin place that is more heaven than earth. . . Thanks for sharing your journey. Almost as good as being there.
You know, I just looked at my pictures from there taken this morning and a good number of them are blurred. Really blurred and for no reason I can account for.
Ghosts!
I have a set of those Toby Jug monks, given as a wedding present 50 years ago. And a foot high statue of ‘Frank’ as I call him, with the birds, placed so he looks out the front door and watches over the creatures out there. Great to see your photos of him in place in his home.
Why am I not surprised? Did the Toby jugs make the cut in the recent move?