Store windows are filled with eggs, bunnies and little chicks. Oops, and lambs! This candy store goes over the top with its beautiful confectioneries. I haven’t indulged—yet! Maybe with the post-Easter sales?
I drop into the Diocesan Museum, which displays relics and other objects from the Cathedral. The enormous crypt beneath has seen many changes over the centuries.
The Civic Museum of Santa Caterina is also open, so I take the time to pop in. It’s featuring an exhibit on Mary Magdalene, including her presence in films. The strains of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” from Jesus Christ, Super Star, fill the rooms. It’s a timely exhibit for Easter.
The museum’s permanent collection includes this ornately embroidered vestment. I try to determine whether the figures were appliqued onto the garment or whether it was embroidered all as one. And if so, was it one person who did all this work? Seemingly impossible.
I’m happy to come across a room of portraits. They give an idea of what people wore and how they lived at the time. I’m surprised to see that this portrait and several others in the room were painted by a woman, Rosalba Carriera, who became so renowned throughout Europe in the 1700s that she painted portraits of royalty in several countries. It’s wonderful to see the female stereotype challenged by this woman who captured the admiration of European nobility and aristocrats with her artistic abilities.
The buildings in which the museum is housed were once a monastery and church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alessandria. When Napoleon took over the area, the place served as barracks and a military depot, then slowly deteriorated over time. However, after the bombings of World War II, 14th century frescoes were discovered beneath the plaster. The church now displays frescoes depicting the Cycle of Saint Ursula.
Faces in the frescoes are expressive. What are they reading? Today they’d be hovering over a screen.
I don’t seem to go far without crossing a canal. Here this sign cautions to stay away from the substances being used to de-rat the area. Ratz!?!
This box is a de-ratting device, the price paid for canals beautifying the city.
I spend a bit of time admiring the prints at the Museum Luigi Bailo, which is showing works of Hokusai. The Japanese script in this early print flows so elegantly.
A film describes how Hokusai left nothing to chance. He designed each element in a geomatric pattern to create balance and harmony.
The museum also displays many works by sculptor Arturo Martini.
Huh? What was I thinking? Brain fog?
It must have gone out the window.
On the way home I pass this memorial to a young man who has recently died.
No religious symbols here, but a poem called “Death is Nothing,” whose last line “Il tuo sorriso è la mia pace” translates to “your smile is my peace,” and the de-ratting device is right there too. Something about this memorial reminds me of Ferlinghetti’s poem The World is a Beautiful Place.