The Basilica di San Petronio is the major church in Bologna and sits smack in the heart of the city in Piazza Maggiore. And while I'm on a fact giving trip, I'll fill you in on the odd looking but beautiful church. Like many magnificent churches in Italy, it took the Bolognese centuries to build, and the goal was to make the church better than Santa Peter's Basilica in Rome. And they probably would have succeed however, when the Pope caught wind of what was going on in Bologna, he immediately put a stop to it (no money= no construction) which is why it's two different styles. The festival celebrates Saint Petronius who was the bishop of Bologna during the fifth century. This year also included flag throwing, which I had yet to see in Bologna.
After Mass, everyone lines up for a procession around the piazza. We were fortunate to have the same viewing spot as last year. Unfortunately we forgot the flip at home, but the procession is quite moving, and the only time I think it's truly silent in the piazza.
1 comment:
Once again, I love your photos, especially the one of the elderly man. It's so interesting to experience the traditions in different countries, and it's even more exciting when you get to experience them a second time around (that's when you really start to feel like you've been an expat for a long time!)
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