19 kms — 33o C and humid/sunny — We saw 5 new pilgrims today, on their way to Rome.
(By Jim)
Today was a day made for my sister Betty. A day filled with beautiful views but no goat paths or sheer cliffs and most of all a day filled with art!
We left the hostel at the same time as “Old Diego,” a pilgrim we have crossed paths with for the past week. His name is actually Vincenzo, but that’s another story. Old Diego walks and talks fast and soon we were alone on the urban trail heading up. After an hour we transitioned to a small asphalt road that wended its way through the trees to the top of our biggest climb for the day affording us spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and urban sprawl that embraces it.
It was on this slope that I started to notice art installations along the way. Pictures, sculptures and mosaics appeared with a much higher frequency than any other stage along the VF. The closer we approached to Pietrasanta, the greater the frequency. By the time we arrived at Ostello San Francesco, we were in the midst of an open air museum of art. Streets, parks and piazzas all had impressive sculptures in marble, bronze or plaster. They drew our attention away from the architectural art we have consistently admired in the medieval churches. One church, however, did catch our eye. Although the Church of Misericordia was built in the 13th century, it was its very unusual 21st century frescos depicting heaven and hell that drew our attention.
The hostel was in an old Franciscan Monastery and run by volunteers. After a relaxing day of wandering through the exhibits, we dined alfresco at a small cafeteria and returned to our cloistered accommodation. We missed you today Sis!
An early start with “Old Diego” and some urban hills.
The VF gave us good views of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Church of San Francesco and cloistered Ostello.
Pietrasanta art.
WOW WOW WOW! Amazing! The Gates of Heaven and Hell are bit reminiscent of Diego's work and has a bit of a political statement. I would have loved to have been on this walk although I was on a pretty spectacular walk myself today that ended in ice cream.
ReplyDeleteYes, the artist is from South America so no doubt similar influences.
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