Having a day off at this juncture was fabulous. Although I didn't sleep in, I lounged in bed for a while before breakfast. I wanted to visit the Santuario Della Verna which according to my guidebook, "Is widely considered one of the most holy and spiritual places in all of Italy."
I had a fairly uphill walk of about a mile from my hotel to the Sanaturio.
The Sanaturio della Verna or Sanctuary of La Verna sits high atop Monte della Verna. It was built above the worship place of LaVerna, the protector of protector of refugees. It was also the hiding place of thieves. It is most famous for being the place in which Saint Frances of Assisi received the stigmata. In the autumn of 1214, Francis discovered sharp nail-like protrusions on his hands and an open wound on his side. La Verna is the most famous of the Casentino convents and one of the most important places of Franciscanism. The cross is implanted in stone and can be seen from far away.
The view beside the cross.
Although the complex itself seemed large, the Basilica, built in 1348, and dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, was on the small side.
The main altar Withwith its glazed terra-cotta image of Mary.
This tattered robe was glass encased. I can't find out its significance but perhaps it belonged to Saint Frances of Assisi?
A Tamburini opus 300 pipe organ inaugurated in 1951. (I copied this from the sign, just for Dan and Dan.)
This small building does not sit upon the rocks but is rather carved out of the rock, many stories tall supporting it.
A small chapel on the side
The Crucifixion
Ascension Day
Just to prove I am actually here. A woman Monk in a brown robe and sandals took my photo. I could tell that she and her sister Monk did not want to have their photo taken so I was respectful
The gates for the pilgrims coming off the trail.
The long uphill walk from the gate.
A mysterious door just for my friend Mary Popham.
As I was walking back to my hotel I passed by a school. The children were running and screaming. This nun was guarding the playground.
My first course was a selection of bruschetta. I had a truffle ones and a tomato ones and paté ones and one that I thought was going to avocado but it turned out to be similar to the British egg mayonnaise. But there was a spice or herb in it that I couldn't figure out. They were all good.
So, since so many of you keep telling me they like reading about the food, I went outside my safety zone and ordered the carne, called Florentine Peposo. Carne, which means meat, could cover a lot of kinds of animals??? But it was beef simmered for five hours in chianti red wine with rosemary, garlic, spices and a copious amount of peppercorns. Like the best beef and gravy that your grandmother ever cooked. I wanted to lay my face in the gravy that it made.
Dessert? Deliziosa! This was a chocolate lovers dream. It was molded chocolate ice cream (gelato?) with a thin layer/swirl of white chocolate. I only ordered it so I could write about it. (surely you don't believe that?) Well worth the calories -- every one of them! If I keep eating like this, in spite of the many miles, I am going to have to check myself into a fat farm! But this food would be worth it.
So I bid you good night and sweet dreams. Tomorrow I am off to Caprise Michelangelo -- the birth city of Michelangelo the painter. Already dreaming of what is next for dinner.
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