Blog Day 12 - Day of Churches

Today was the day of churches. We went to school of course, learned some more Italian (or should I say screwed up some more Italian), and had a few hours of rest (or homework-doing). Then, we all met up around 4 for our church-tour.

It is impossible to visit Italy and not visit churches and see the art. Each city seems to have a church on every piazza (and a piazza or two on every street). The churches each look plain on the outside (or plain by Italian standards) but each one is covered in gold and antique artwork on the insides. The frescos and alcoves in the churches depict every imaginable Bible scene; every vice and virtue; every saint and holy person you can think of. There are intricate, molded designs on the walls and ceilings; huge columns covered in pink, green, black, and white marble sprouting from the inlaid marble floors; wood and marble sculptures of Jesus and Mary hiding in corners; huge paintings that are made to look three-dimensional on every wall. There are giant cupolas in every church with paintings of G-d, Jesus, Mary, saints, etc. The cupolas also have paintings of people looking down on the church, as if it was a theatre and those were other people watching the going-ons.

The four churches we visited in Genova were all of the Baroque-style so my descriptions might only pertain to that style. It was interesting to visit them, but they do all look the same after awhile. I think my favorite was the one we visited that had been a private church for one of the rich families. It was relatively small but still intricately designed and decorated.

It was amazing to learn that the artwork and churches only get restored every once in awhile, and when they are restored, they are ONLY cleaned. There is never any new paint put on the walls! The paintings were glorious and perfect and many looked as if they were done recently. Pretty cool!

After the churches, Kelly, Ashley (other one, not my roommate), Allison, Krissie, Marta, Behrad, and I went out to dinner at the nice restaurant that our Professoressa had taken us to last week. Most of us got the pansotti con salsa di noci again (the ravioli-type pasta with walnut sauce). It was AMAZING yet again! We also got a bottle of wine and dessert. Great meal! I love eating in Italy.

Buenasera! (Good evening)