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Napoli Travels _9-05 |
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The photo essay below forms part of the content above. I just divided it up in pieces. Matrimoni Marriage and children are a big part of the social fabric in Naples. I saw at least four weddings while I was there. The first was at the Duomo, the city's cathedral dedicated to the city's Patron saint San Gennaro (St. Januarius). I was in the crypt observing the bones of the saint. I started walking up the stairs to exit the crypt when I heard the cathedral's grand organ blare out music. The sound was truly awe inspiring. I peeked out of the crypt and saw that a full-on wedding mass had just begun with bride in a long white dress with train and groom at the front and guests in pews. I thought it was strange, because the cathedral was still open to the public while this was going on. Foreign and Italian tourists were milling about and the excavations museum, gift shop etc. were all open. I sat in the pews for a bit and listened to the Mass and then proceeded to the excavations. (More on them in the Duomo section). Another day, at Castel dell'Ovo, I saw a groom and bride in long white dress with train posing for photos. Still another day, I saw the same thing in the middle of Piazza Plebiscito. At the Church of Santa Chiara, as I entered, a wedding party had just exited the church and were crowded around the entrance. I enjoyed seeing these Neapolitans fashionably dressed and smiling. I noticed some of the women were scantily clad with open back dresses. What would the saint say? Times sure have changed. I asked a local who was observing if it was OK to enter the church and she said, "Yeah, I guess so," so I did. Rice was strewn all over the threshold and inside the front of the church and someone was sweeping it up. Meanwhile, tourists and worshippers were inside doing their thing. I love the relaxed attitude of Neapolitans. Tomba di Virgilio Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit the tomb of Virgil on this trip. Oh well! Sigh. We even drove past it every day on our way to the fairgrounds of D'Oltremare in Fuorigrotta. Now I know just where it is and next time I will go there. Piazza Carolina Piazza Carolina is a small square
on the right hand side of Chiesa di San Francesco di Paola as you face the
church. There is a taxi station there and an always useful tabacchaio.
The entrance to the Pizzofalcone and Monte di Dio neighborhoods, Via Gennaro
Serra, runs from Piazza Carolina up the hill. |
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All Photos in Napoli_09-05 taken by Dino
Cardone with a Kodak cx-7430 © 1995 and following by Casa di Dino Cardone |
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