Museo Claudio Faina, Italy Travel Journals & Blogs

Medriatic Sojourn
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- May 8, 2022, 2:18pm
- ⛅ 70 °F
- Altitude: 1,089 ft
- Italy Umbria Orvieto Museo Claudio Faina 42.716831, 12.11270842°43’1” N 12°6’46” E
Day 30
Papal Rest Stop
May 8, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Whenever the medieval popes traveled north of Rome, they would stop at the papal palace in Orvieto. Because this was the boss’s favorite home away from home, the church here received more than its share of attention and funding. Not only was it a rest-stop for the popes, it was our rest-stop as well on our journey from Abruzzi to San Gimignano. This is the only example of Italian Gothic architecture still remaining. Perched atop a volcanic plug, Orvieto occupies the high ground. The mountain around it has eroded, so the town covers the top of a basalt cylinder that rises a thousand feet above the surrounding terrain. The only way to assault this fortress is with a helicopter, and these were in short supply in the 1200’s. The popes felt safe here.

Though the cathedral here is neither as large nor as flowery as St. Peter’s in Rome, in some ways I like this church better. Glittering golden mosaics on the facade dazzle the eyes in the afternoon sun. The stiff archaic characters painted on its interior walls speak of a faith that transcends time. Each panel tells the story of part of the Bible, and they do it with such graphic simplicity that one cannot miss the story. Adam sleeps as God removes a rib from his side to make woman. Noah rides over the waves in a huge boat. Peter is crucified upside down. Their message is unmistakable.

It is a Sunday, and when we walked into the church we saw a Catholic praise-and-worship service in progress. All of the frescoes were illuminated. And they were glorious. A chapel contains the church’s major relic, a tablecloth said to be stained with the blood of Christ that once miraculously dripped from a communion wafer. This event is said to show that the communion elements are the real body of Christ. Okay. I won’t argue the point. This miracle, however, gave rise to a holy day called the Feast of Corpus Christi and to the name of a wonderful city in Texas.

After leaving the church we wandered through this lovely, ancient town. We bought a pizza and a glass of wine just for the memory. I expect that the memory of Orvieto will be with me for a long time. Like it’s biblical images, it’s hard to forget Orvieto.Read more
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Traveler L’Italia, Il Mio Cuore - 2022
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- Sep 9, 2022, 3:45pm
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 325 m
- Italy Umbria Orvieto Museo Claudio Faina 42.717281, 12.11245442°43’2” N 12°6’45” E
Day 6
Afternoon Drinks with a View, Orvieto
September 9, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
After a very quick unpack we ventured out to reacquaint ourselves with one of our favourite towns. I was quite concerned Covid would have hit the smaller towns in Italy quite badly, but that was not the case here. Orvieto is thriving and there are even more cafes, restaurants and shops than when we were here in 2019. It is great to see.

Of course our first stop must be the Duomo di Orvieto, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (Orvieto Cathedral) and it needs to be seen to be believed. This church is one of my all-time favourites, especially the facade. The detail in the mosaic tiles that make up the facade are breathtaking. The skill and the craftsmanship are hard to fathom, considering construction began in 1290AD. I think we stopped and took photos every time we passed it while we were here.

We sat and had a few drinks in the Piazza with the Duomo as our view. We are so happy and lucky to be here again.

We then had a wander through the streets before our daily gelato treat. It has been a big day. After leaving the heat and crowds of Rome, we feel like our holiday has now begun.

P.S. Vale Queen Elizabeth II.Read more
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Traveler Europa 2017-2018
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- Feb 24, 2018
- ⛅ 12 °C
- Altitude: 325 m
- Italy Umbria Orvieto Museo Claudio Faina 42.717261, 12.11249242°43’2” N 12°6’45” E
Day 146
Ausflug nach Orvieto
February 24, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Heute ging es zusammen mit Smitty nach Orvieto, wo wir uns die Höhlen im Felsen unterhalb der Stadt anschauten. Während unseres Abstiegs lernten wir, dass jedes Haus unter sich eine eigene Höhle als Keller hatte. Heute weiß man von ungefähr 1.200 Stück. Die meisten Einwohner züchteten dort Tauben – eine Spezialität damals wie heute. Schon irre! Nach der Führung bummelten wir noch durch die Innenstadt und schauten uns die kleinen Gassen sowie den berühmten schwarz-weißen Dom von Orvieto an. Zum Abschluss gab es noch ein leckeres italienisches Eis.Read more
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Bella Italia 2018
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- Sep 30, 2018, 10:30am
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 338 m
- Italy Umbria Orvieto Museo Claudio Faina 42.716953, 12.1130442°43’1” N 12°6’47” E
Day 32
Duomo di Orvieto
September 30, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
The Duomo di Orvieto is such a pretty building. I know that’s not how you would usually describe a cathedral, but this one is very pretty. While the body of the church is black stone and white marble, it is the facade that softens the look of the building with the use of soft pinks, greens and golds in the intricate columns, decorations and beautiful gold highlighted mosaics. The details are amazing.

This is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The building was constructed under the orders of Pope Urban IV to commemorate and provide a suitable home for the Corporal of Bolsena, a miracle which is said to have occurred in 1263 in the nearby town of Bolsena, when a travelling priest who had doubts about the truth of transubstantiation found that his Host was bleeding so much that it stained the altar cloth. The cloth is now stored in the Chapel of the Corporal inside the cathedral.

Building began in 1290 but construction took three centuries to complete. It is not surprising these building took so long to build, but three centruries is a bit excessive.

Inside the cathedral is fairly simple but eye catching with its black and white stripes contrasting against the two beautifully frescoed chapels, decorated by some of the best Italian painters of the period. And the organ is a piece of art itself and we were lucky enough to be there when the organist was playing. What a beautiful sound.

This was not on our “tourist” agenda but would have to be one of the nicest cathedrals we have seen so far.Read more
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Traveler Bolsena e Lago Trasimeno
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- Jun 8, 2019, 4:00pm
- 30 °C
- Altitude: 325 m
- Italy Umbria Orvieto Museo Claudio Faina 42.717255, 12.11241542°43’2” N 12°6’45” E
Day 1
ORVIETO
June 8, 2019 in Italy ⋅ 30 °C
Bella città, abbiamo parcheggiato subito fuori le mura in Piazza d’Armi ex caserma Piave al costo di 1 euro al giorno. Da lì c’è un bus gratuito ogni 20 minuti che porta in centro. Noi avevamo prenotato una stanza da Orvieto Aroma Rooms, in centro, e la signora è stata gentilissima: ci è venuta a prendere in macchina e riportati al parcheggio il giorno dopo. Il posto era pulito e accogliente situato in un palazzo antico, unica pecca niente ascensore e scale piuttosto ripide. Era una affittacamere per cui tecnicamente la colazione non era compresa, ma in realtà c’era una sala comune alle varie stanze provvista di brioches, caffè e il necessario base per mangiare qualcosa la mattina. Appena arrivati abbiamo visitato il pozzo di San Patrizio, collocato vicino al parcheggio. Devo dire che è stata dura: le scale per scendere non erano in comune con quelle per risalire, per cui si doveva scendere fino a 58 metri di profondità e poi iniziare la risalita. Dentro era decisamente freddino, meglio portarsi una maglia. Il centro è bello, anche se pieno di salite e discese. Noi siamo capitati durante la festa dei fiori e c’era musica ovunque.Read more
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Traveler Orvieto
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- Aug 25, 2021, 10:44am
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 327 m
- Italy Umbria Orvieto Museo Claudio Faina 42.716944, 12.112542°43’1” N 12°6’45” E
Facciata del Duomo
August 25, 2021 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
La facciata dorata cattura e incanta lo sguardo. È decorata da ampi bassorilievi e statue con i simboli degli evangelisti, creati da Maitani e collaboratori tra il 1325 e il 1330.
Nel 1352 Matteo di Ugolino aggiunse le statue bronzee dell’Agnello di Dio sul frontone centrale e di San Michele sul frontone laterale sinistro.
I bassorilievi di marmo sui pilastri ritraggono storie dell’Antico e del Nuovo Testamento. Sono considerati tra i più famosi di tutta la scultura trecentesca. Si tratta di un lavoro collettivo e anonimo, al quale hanno collaborato almeno tre o quattro capimastri (Maitani compreso) con i loro assistenti.
Da sinistra a destra, i bassorilievi raffigurano Storie Della Genesi, L’albero di Jesse e i profeti che annunciarono il Messia, Episodi della vita di Cristo e della Vergine, Il Giudizio Finale dall’Apocalisse.
Sopra questi bassorilievi ci sono gli splendenti mosaici realizzati tra il 1350 e il 1390 su disegno dell’artista Cesare Nebbia. Le tessere originali sono state sostituite nei secoli. La maggior parte dei mosaici rappresenta scene della vita della Vergine Maria.
Al centro dei mosaici si ammira il grande rosone realizzato dallo scultore e architetto Orcagna tra il 1354 e il 1380. Nelle nicchie sopra il rosone ci sono i 12 apostoli, mentre su entrambi i lati ci sono nicchie con 12 profeti dell’Antico Testamento presentati a coppie. Le statue nelle nicchie sono un tipico modello figurativo delle cattedrali francesi. I pannelli intorno al rosone sono decorati con mosaici rappresentanti i quattro Dottori della Chiesa.
La parte più nuova della decorazione della facciata è costituita dalle tre porte bronzee che danno accesso all’interno della cattedrale. Esse furono realizzate nel 1970 dallo scultore siciliano Emilio Greco e raffigurano le Opere di Misericordia.
Le porte sono sormontate da una scultura della Madonna col Bambino realizzata da Andrea Pisano nel 1347.
I muri laterali del duomo di Orvieto, in contrasto con la facciata, presentano una decorazione molto più semplice, costituita da fasce alternate di travertino bianco e basalto grigio-blu.Read more
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