Monday, August 22, 2011

BEAUTY AND THE MAYOR

Franciscan Cloister of Santa Maria del Gesù, Modica

On Saturday evening the Mayor of Modica, in a very nice gesture, held a reception for "Modicani  d'elezione", meaning those who have chosen to live, but were not born, in his town.  The event was held in the stunningly beautiful setting of the recently restored Church and adjoining Franciscan Cloister of Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica Alta.

The Church, extant from 1343, was reconstructed in 1481 for the wedding of Anna Cabrera, Countess of Modica and Federico Henriquez, first cousin of King Ferdinand 11 of Aragon [Fernando il Cattolico].   Having been built high up and away from the then most populous areas of the city, both buildings survived and neither was badly damaged in the terrible earthquake of 1693

The columns in the Cloister were constructed in a variety of styles, among them Arabic, Arab-Norman, Gothic, Romanesque and herringbone.  Each one is different.

I took so many pictures of the Church and Cloister, which were even lovelier in the evening light,  that, for ease of viewing, I have compiled them into a slideshow.  I hope you enjoy them:



It was a pleasant evening which included an interlude of traditional Sicilian songs.  And naturally, it wouldn't have been a Modican reception without some enormous trays of delicious,  handmade pastries from the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto


I am enormously grateful to the person who uploaded this lovely video onto youtube:

10 comments:

Beyond Survivor said...

Looks breathtakingly beautiful. Fantastic photos!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Thank you, Jan - a compliment indeed as I know you are an excellent photographer.

Trubes said...

Amazing Welshcakes, truly amazing, thank you for sharing this...
Di..xx
Love and cuddles to darling Simi too..Di..xx

Rachel Cotterill said...

What a lovely idea! :)

jams o donnell said...

What a beautiful place. It was a fine gesture on the Mayor's part to hold the reception

douglas said...

thanks for showing us what we missed!

LindyLouMac said...

I love your slideshow, I think as you say it is the evening light that makes them particularly beautiful.

Whispering Walls said...

Auguri WL

James Higham said...

More than interesting, that was. Is it a first?

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Thanks Di. Love to you and Chloe too. xx Yes, it was nice, Rachel. Hi, jams. Yes, beautiful and the Mayor is to be applauded. Hi, Douglas. you would have enjoyed it. Thanks, LindyLouMac. Yes, that light made a difference. Thanks, WW. Hi, James. Yes, it was.

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