The Abbey of San Domenico, Sora

The Abbey of San Domenico, built in 1011, stands near the banks of a river and by a busy road which would once, no doubt, have been a country lane. It's quiet inside the almost empty church and there's an other-worldly atmosphere. The windows are high up and some light shines through them and after being outside in the bright sunshine the dim light is calming.

San Domenico da Foligno - St. Dominic from Foligno (951-1031) came to the region in later life and founded several monasteries including the one in Sora.  A violent earthquake in 1915 caused much damage to the buildings and restoration works had to be carried out faithful to the original simplicity of style of Cistercian architecture. Today the Abbey serves as a parish church and also has a close relationship with the monastic community of nearby Casamari Abbey. Three of my sisters-in-law and the other members of the choir from Casamari sometimes sing with the San Domenico choir.

The interior of the church is divided into three naves with an unusual raised transept with ascending steps up to the sanctuary and altar. Underneath is the crypt which can be accessed by means of a spacious flight of steps on both sides of the transept.

The crypt is also divided into three naves with sixteen columns that are all different and in the main apse there's a marble altar where the mortal remains of San Domenico are kept.

To one side of the church there are some Roman monuments and on a wall is a stone slab that recalls the birth of the Roman orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero. The event is believed to have occurred in the country villa that once stood on the site.

the view opposite the church and monastery

Angel's Trumpet, Remembrance Day

On our way back from our morning in Sora we stopped by the Fibreno, a tributary of the Liri, another river that flows through the area and is a good water resource for the farms thereabouts.   There are several garden centres that we've used in the past, but this time we didn't visit any despite being tempted to browse rather than buy! It's disappointing that I can't grow the flowering plants that I once did when living permanently in Italy. I have to be content with the shrubs that don't need much maintenance other than pruning, the rose bushes as well as the irises and bulbs that lie dormant until they flower in their season.

Walking over the bridge and past the house (above) I spotted a magnificent specimen of a flowering shrub, the brugmansia (angel's trumpet). It was very photogenic, but I've since read up about it and it's one that I wouldn't want to grow in my garden as apparently all parts of the plant are poisonous with the seeds and leaves being dangerous and the sap being an irritant.

Across the way is the 11th century Abbey of San Domenico which was built on the ruins of a country villa belonging to Cicero's family. (More about the monastery church next time).

The main entrance door of San Domenico Abbey

REMEMBERING 

Today, as we remember the 100th anniversary of the Great War we continue to reflect and give thanks for our freedom due to the courage of those who served their country then and for all war veterans, past and present. It's difficult to put into words how I feel at this time due to my own personal sadness for the grandfather I never knew, killed in battle in France in December 1917 and who never knew my father born days beforehand, but I take comfort in knowing I share in the act of remembrance and gratitude that 'they died that we might live in freedom' with millions of others throughout the world.

Remembrance

At this time we remember those who sacrificed their lives in times of conflict, past and present, that we might live in freedom.  We also remember those who continue to suffer through the consequences of war, for those who support them and for all who work for peace and reconciliation in the troubled places of the world.