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Bon Journo!
This morning after breakfast at the hostel we had a little time to wander through the giant flee market that was settling up all the way down main street. The flee market was part of the festival and had everything from random antiques, to handmade furniture, jewelry and clothes. I think Elizabetta described it best when she called it all “oddities”. There were LOTS of random stuff, but it was all really fun to look at! We got to wander through and look at everything and then we all headed to mass.
The mass at this church definitely had more of a “community” feel. There was a lot more participation from the congregation and it was a lot more full than the mass at Saint Lorenzo’s. There was also a bulletin so that we could try and follow along! (even if it was in Italian!) Unfortunately we had to leave early in order to make our lunch date that Elizabetta had arranged for us.
We ate a BIG lunch today at a restaurant just outside of the medieval walls. The meal was ok, but since we have been spoiled but super-amazing food none of us
were very impressed. I also was a little disappointed in the wine. Montagnana is more known for their sparkling wines which are not my favorite, I generally prefer red wines.
After lunch we had a little more time to look at the little stands and then we met back at the hostel to meet one of the gals that gave us the tour headed to a little town called Monselice. Monselice is known for their hill of seven churches. Back in their time, these seven chapels were the only other place besides Rome where a person could be completely indulged from purgatory. Each Chapel is devoted to a different saint and a person was suppose to pray to all to be indulged.
So we hiked up the little hill in Monselice to the chapels at the top of the hill. Along the way we stopped in at a small little church built in the Romanesque style. Also along the way there was a beautiful Roman arch that divided the chapels from the rest of the hill. The chapels sat all in a row up the hill and then at the very top of the hill was
The Three Charities
Me, Rhiannan, and Betsy pretending to be statues of the three Charities the house that was owned by the rich patrons of Monselice.
This family had built their own personal chapel within their house which was open for tours despite being under renovations. This little chapel definitely did not give me a awing “sacred space” feeling. The chapel itself was teeny tiny and the whole wall behind the alter was full of built in cabinets with glass fronts. Inside those glass cabinets were bodies of martyred saints. About 15 of these bodies were on display with the skull sitting on a tiny little body that was covered with small clothes. Each had a gloved had that was grasping a chalice that I’m sure was supposed to represent a communion chalice.
The story is that this rich family bought these bodies of early Christians martyred for their faith from the catacombs in Rome. They brought them to their personal chapel, dressed them up, and named them.
It was weird. Really creepy. The most disturbing part to me is that they were not just clean skeletons. Many of the skulls still had remnants of tissue all over them. And some of them were looking at us :S
So after being thoroughly creeped out we headed back outside to what else.. THE RAIN! I checked the weather this morning and there was literally a 0% chance of rain but it still managed to spit on us while we were at the top of the hill in Monselice. We actually appreciated this rain quite a bit since it was about 80 degrees out and the sun never quit. It rained so little it was just a wonderful mist to cool us all down after our long hike.
We headed back down the hill, stopping in the courtyard of a medieval fortress (it cost money to go in), and inside a baroque church which had a chapel devoted to Saint Francis. When we got back down the hill we all grabbed some yummy Gelato (I had melon flavored and it tasted just like cantaloupe) and sat in the shade for a while before we headed back to the train station.
Supper tonight was pizza back at the hostel. When the Italians eat pizza, they get an entire 12” pizza for EACH person. We were suppose to go to “Entertainment at the Castle Tower” tonight but when we found out it was an Italian rock concert we all decided we would rather go to bed early tonight since we are leaving at 7:00 for VENICE tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I had some time tonight to catch up on writing my blogs and get to bed early. I am super excited for Venice tomorrow! Montagnana has set an official welcome and tour of the city! We really are getting treated like celebrities here!
Chow for tonight!
Katelyn
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