Ah...Napoli...

Last week I went on a Spiritual Walking Tour in Napoli (Naples) with a small group of Santa Susanna parishioners (pic 1). Naples is only a ~90 minute train ride from Rome. We spent about 5 hours there, had a nice lunch in Piazza Dante (Dante Alighieri - Poet) where I polished off 4 small chocolate chip cannoli! (pic 5) and then hopped on the train and returned to Rome. I'll have to go back to see more of the city, the coast and visit Pompeii.

I was warned by several Italians to be careful in Naples...no jewelry...no purse...etc. Although Italy is generally very safe you should be extra careful in Naples. The streets are generally narrow and crowded with people going about their business. (Fr. Greg walking the streets in pic 11) It is frequently described as colorful and lively by day and sinister by night. Like many of the cities in Italy, Naples definitely has tons of treasures waiting to be appreciated.

We did walk down a street famous for its Presepii (Nativity) craftsman and builders. You can see Fr. Greg and Monica looking at the figurines in the window on Via San Gregorio Aremeno. (pic 3) Our walk included visits to Piazza Galibaldi, the Duomo of San Gennaro, San Domnico Magiore, the Gesu' Nuovo, Santa Chiara ,San Gregorio Armeno and Cappella Sansevero. You can see more photos on the Santa Susanna website (link to the right) , in the Our Church section and Parish Photos.

I was especially taken by the simple Gothic interior of San Lorenzo Maggiore (unfortunately fotos prohibited). I did capture the courtyard (pic 7) I wished my backyard in Bossier City looked as beautiful. (smile) We also saw the Scavi below. It was a city down there! There was a clothes business where they washed and dyed fabric, a bakery an aerarium/tax collector's office with traces of the iron grill left etc....amazing. The interior of the Duomo was absolutely beautiful with the Holy Spirit window similar to the one in St. Peter's. (pic 10)

The church of Santa Chiara (pic 9) was bombed in World War II but a reconstruction uncovered the original Provencial-Gothic sturcture. There was also a beautiful convent with an Angevin cloister designed by Vaccaro with beautiful majolica tiles. (pic 4) Betty asked me to take a picture with her camera...Hmm..I wonder if she has a blog too! (pic 13) We saw Sammartino's The Dead Christ in the Cappella Sansevero. The marble looks like fabric draped...very beautiful.

I snapped a shot of Antonella and Cecilia walking along the frescos at Santa Chiar. (pic 6) At lunch they were telling me that in the region of Italy one is from they have a favorite dish made with chicken combs (the thing on their head) and spinal columns etc. Mmmm...sounds tasty! Actually, I'm sure it is. She said Americans are very squimish when she talks about the local cuisine. Hey...I'd try it. I always try new things. (note: still haven't found the courage to try tripe yet...but working on it)

We even saw the remains of an ancient fitness center!!! Check out the ruins of the sauna! (pic 8). Yikes! That fitness center is ancient but still has less dust then the equipment in my fitness room at home! (smile)


Pic 2 is of the beautiful obelisk at piazza San Domenico Maggiore. You can see the red and grey palazzo...Naples' official colors. I also heard that they used to bury their dead wrapping the skull and two large leg bones in a cross...hence the pirates skull and crossed bones...or symbol for poison/death. On the train ride in we saw apartments with no windows. They were actually apartments for the dead. The relatives


visit their deceased relatives there. Ah, hum...interesting. I have to say that I was surprised at the skyline as I approached the city...I had to look twice to make sure I was really seeing skyskrapers!

As I only spent a few hours in Napoli, I'll reserve comment until I can give it a proper visit and see more of what it has to offer....