Yesterday we went to Norcia the birthplace of Sts Benedict and his sister Scholastica. It is such a gloriously beautiful area. All the way up, the Flanders poppies and the broom delighted up and then in the valley around Norcia the flowering rape seed made a beautiful show.
A Statue of St Benedict dominates the town square. Benedict is certainly owned as the favourite son of the town. 
Here some of our group are waiting below the statue for the church to open.The most famous industry is turning pig and boar into every imaginable form of salami and cured meats. The boars heads decorating the shops are the stuff of legend.
Before we got to Norcia we visited the ancient abbey of San Eutizio which is gradually being restored. I find the details of this building wonderful. Even a windowsill is a work of art giving the eye much to delight in and the mind much to ponder with the way imagery is used.
THis church window below uses the iconography of the four evangelists so well.
The purpose of our visit here was to visit the place where Benedict and Scholastica were born. This picture below is from the inside lid of the voting box used by the town council in the 15th or 16th century. I have often studied this picture in its details and it shows a depth of emotion in the faces and hands. Anyone who would like better version just let me know and I'll send you the file.
We prayed at the crypt below the church in Norcia. The atmosphere here is wonderful.
Later we went to the church of St Scholastica, an exceedingly run down church out at the cementery. Here in what was the old sacristy is the a most beautiful statue of St Scholastica. I think all of us thought this the bes statue of her we have seen. The face and hands are so life like I almost expected her to speak.
Everything yesterday we went well and we even left Norcia on time. But on the way home we had to do a detour. There had been a truck accident further down the highway and all high trucks and buses had to go back and come in through Terni, an industrial town. Never, ever do Terni in peak hour. It took us over half an hour to go about 300m. We eventually got home 2 hours late - at 8.30. It was the bus driver we felt sorry for as we had started out at 6.00 am. I think he thought he was getting home early. The free and frank conversation he had with the police advising him to turn around made me think that he was thought he was getting home early enough for the soccer on TV. But we like Georgio. We had him for two of our trips last year and we so impressed we made a fuss about how good he was with the bus company. So we were pleased to see him again and hope he takes us to Subiaco next week.
Before we got to Norcia we visited the ancient abbey of San Eutizio which is gradually being restored. I find the details of this building wonderful. Even a windowsill is a work of art giving the eye much to delight in and the mind much to ponder with the way imagery is used.
THis church window below uses the iconography of the four evangelists so well.
The purpose of our visit here was to visit the place where Benedict and Scholastica were born. This picture below is from the inside lid of the voting box used by the town council in the 15th or 16th century. I have often studied this picture in its details and it shows a depth of emotion in the faces and hands. Anyone who would like better version just let me know and I'll send you the file.
We prayed at the crypt below the church in Norcia. The atmosphere here is wonderful.
Later we went to the church of St Scholastica, an exceedingly run down church out at the cementery. Here in what was the old sacristy is the a most beautiful statue of St Scholastica. I think all of us thought this the bes statue of her we have seen. The face and hands are so life like I almost expected her to speak.
Everything yesterday we went well and we even left Norcia on time. But on the way home we had to do a detour. There had been a truck accident further down the highway and all high trucks and buses had to go back and come in through Terni, an industrial town. Never, ever do Terni in peak hour. It took us over half an hour to go about 300m. We eventually got home 2 hours late - at 8.30. It was the bus driver we felt sorry for as we had started out at 6.00 am. I think he thought he was getting home early. The free and frank conversation he had with the police advising him to turn around made me think that he was thought he was getting home early enough for the soccer on TV. But we like Georgio. We had him for two of our trips last year and we so impressed we made a fuss about how good he was with the bus company. So we were pleased to see him again and hope he takes us to Subiaco next week.
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