A time in Italy

 We've just got back from our time in Italy and it's been good to find the promise of Springtime in both countries with much better weather than previous months.

The outward journey by plane and train to south of Rome was uneventful (in contrast to the journey back because of cancelled trains to Rome when we had to find an alternative transport i.e. bus and metro) and it was good to see the familiar mountains and villages of the Ciociaria region.

It doesn't take long to get back into our usual routine once we're home in Italy, but since we're limited for time and there's a lot to do, especially in the garden, we always hope that the weather stays dry in the early months of the year.  In fact, we arrived to cold, wet weather and it was important to get the fire on and warm up the house in the upstairs apartment. (We have two storeys in our family home which is now split up into identical apartments and these days we use the upstairs apartment which can be heated by wood-fired central heating or gas).  The weather soon improved, so it was a pleasure to look out over the garden then enjoy what was growing and coming into season.  It was also good to see the various insects coming to life in the sunshine.

Mr P. soon got to work in the garden pruning the vines and the fruit trees - more about that another time. Some old wooden pergola poles, originally cut from our trees in the wood on the opposite hill to the house, had to be replaced. They needed to be chopped up and stored for future firewood.

At the end of a sunny day the snow on the distant mountains seemed to turn pink as the sun set.

I'll share some more of our trip to Italy soon.  Meanwhile, I hope that everything is going well with you where you live and you have a good week.

We're enjoying the Spring flowers that are blooming in our garden and neighbourhood. DH has lots to do bringing his plants on in the UK garden plot.

A view from the kitchen window this morning - lovely blue skies, although quite windy out.

 A happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow!

Certosa di Trisulti: The Nativity Crib Scene

  

When we visited the Charterhouse in the mountains at Trisulti in the Summer we went into the church which is situated in the courtyard of a papal palace of Innocent III (the pope who gave his blessing so that Francis of Assisi, the humble man of vision, could continue with his work as a friar preaching the gospel of love, justice and peace; demonstrating the way of Christ to the church and society in general).

A baptismal service was taking place at the time and many of the side chapels and adjoining rooms were open.

                                           

                                               

In the courtyard the shepherd boy placard indicates the open door into a semi-darkened room where there's an illuminated Nativity Crib set in a village with scenes and figurines of country folk who are engaged in a traditional way of life and working on different crafts. Some of the models are moving so it's a dynamic and endearing permanent display that has been there for many decades.

The nativity scene or il presepio was first introduced by Francis of Assisi on Christmas Eve of A.D. 1223 when the people of Gubbio in Italy created a living nativity scene in the woods and Francis preached the joyful message of the birth of Jesus Christ - 'the child of Bethlehem'.

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Italy: higher up the mountain: Certosa di Trisulti (3)

view from the church and palazzo courtyard.

Even though the Charterhouse of Trisulti is located in a remote, wooded location it has been possible for many years to visit it on foot because of the mountain tracks across the area.  In fact, the name 'trisulti' derives from three nearby mountain passes in the region. A castle belonging to the noble Colonna family also stood near the monastery.

Today, many visitors come to see the frescoes and other artwork in the old pharmacy, but as well as being a retreat house for seminarians the monastery serves the local people of the Collepardo area and there are services in the adjoining church.  On the day we were there a baptism was taking place. There's also an ancient ecclesiastical palace, a library of antiquarian books and a collection of the types of herbs used in medicinal remedies and alpine plants that can be found in the Abruzzi mountains. The monastery shop sells liqueurs, herbal preparations, honey, chocolate, literature and souvenirs similar to those at the sister Casamari Abbey.

Visitors enter the monastery through the towered Tuscan-style portico with its marble plaque in relief of St. Bartholomew, the patron saint of the Certosa.

Many of the frescoes in the monastery were painted by Filippo Balbi (1806-1890). The one over the inner door of the entrance portico depicts the Virgin and Child giving the bread of providence to a monk and others hand provisions to children.

Mr. P. rested on the steps of the pharmacy and I went inside.  The light was variable so the results of my photographic efforts are mixed.

The top frescoes are the more well known ones.  On the top left is a painted door depicting, I believe, F. Balbi's serving boy and the other is a caricature of 'poverty' and 'egotism'.

In the salon/waiting room every wall is covered in paintings and over the two arched doors are those depicting events in the life of Balbi.

There are other paintings in the hall decorated with 3D artificial tropical trees, poetic sayings and a long cased clock with a face that has eyes that must have moved from side to side when it was working. I remember years ago there was a huge stuffed eagle at the end of the corridor and a live one in a cage in the grounds, but probably something that the community wouldn't want to display or keep these days.

  

This is the pharmacy with its original cases of medicine jars and bottles.  Even the doors and window shutters are beautifully painted. 

As you can imagine, the collages represent only some of the details in the old pharmacy and there are other areas of the monastery complex also of interest.  Finally, we visited the monastery shop to buy some gifts for my husband's family such as this herbal digestive drink.

Italy: higher up the mountains: Certosa di Trisulti (2)

Set in the wooded mountains of the Ciociaria region, at an altitude of 800m, the Charterhouse of Trisulti is a huge monastic complex that has now become a national monument. Its fame is partly due to the old pharmacy decorated with many frescoes that have fantastical themes and beyond the high walls that enclose this part of the monastery there's a beautiful garden.

When I'm looking around a garden I'm always interested in how the garden is tended.  The plentiful supply of water that has been channelled from the nearby mountain streams into the monastery must be of benefit in keeping the gardens well watered.

Next to the formal gardens is an area of land with outbuildings and store rooms which is used for growing fruit, vegetables and herbs.

A view of the enclosed gardens from one of the windows in the pharmacy.  More about the frescoes that decorate the pharmacy and adjoining rooms next time.