More Photos of Viterbo, Barbara?? Really? or "I just can't come home."

The Church of Santa Maria Nuova in Viterbo exudes its many many years of age--1000-1100 CE, looks plainly as if ancient columns used to support the starkly simple timber roof. 

In Medieval times, people stood during church serves--common people anyway. How many thousands through the many ages have attended? How many "passages" observed?  Any persons'
christening, confirmation, wedding, funeral, happening in the proper season of life; generation after generation for a thousand years?

Light, timber and columns.

On this day, yet another wedding was about to happen; the church was being prepared for the ceremony.   

Trasporto della Macchina di Santa Rosa in Viterbo, Italy. With the help of a You Tube link.

Festival of Santa Rosa, Procession 2019

Of course, our visit to Viterbo was in May, 2019. We did not witness the current year's festival.

The carrying of this the monumental structure--almost pagan, if not to styled in a Christian manner--seemed timeless. Could be last week (it was) or could be the Middle Ages. Or, in spirit and style, we could be seeing a version of a Roman Triumph parade?

The Doorways of Viterbo

These are just a few of the unique, stately doorways (entrances to private homes, courts, etc?) that were easy to find when walking in Viterbo. The Middle Ages is still on show. See the worn doorstep on the example below. (Multi-thousand feet entering and leaving over the centuries.)

Currently, I'm interested in Boro stitched mending effects on antique Japanese Kimonos; the appearance of the  doorway above provides a similar idea with the various wood and irregular patterns.

This one is a favorite. A little photo editing, polishing, printing and I have a pretty illustration for a card to send to someone, someday.

The streets feel haunted. "Is it so hard to believe that souls might also travel those paths?" wonders Anthony Doerr near the final pages of his wonderful novel "All the Light We Cannot See". He did not write about Rome or Viterbo for this novel, but what matter? The ancient setting evokes the same feeling. Am I wrong?

Viterbo: What a Joy to See this Town!

Viterbo is about an hour from Rome--a train ride from Vatican area station.  The guide book said Viterbo is the best example of a walled, medieval city left in Italy (for it's size). Looks like the Land of Romeo and Juliet, doesn't it?  It was magical; clean, very little trash and graffiti; not very crowded on this cool May Friday.

They produce wonderful ceramics here in Viterbo. A local friend from our home town spent 2 years learning and teaching mosaics here. Beautiful stuff.

The city sponsors a major religious event in September (next week, actually) Feast of Santa Rosa. Crowds will arrive for that! The men of the town carry a huge towering structure through the streets, in honor of the sweet Saint of Medieval times, whose shrine is in the town.  Sometimes, there are accidents while the structure is being transported. People have died!

But not today.  We strolled away the day. Every alley and court yard contained an architectural wonder, great and small.

Not much graffiti but evocative walks, courts and passages all over town. Many Italian and international films are made here.

Charm abounds. Look at that sweet bell tower. And my favorite everywhere: hearing the genuine, old fashion or ancient church bells tolling the hours. Loved that so much.

 Dripping with antique wonder. The people we see here today are tourists, mostly. Or locals like the nun? Who would we have seen 500 years ago? What would they have done? Worked hard, probably.

The next couple of posts will show more of this wonderful town. So glad we could visit!