Just as the people of Sienna revere St Catherine, so do the people of Padua revere St Anthony - - in fact his tomb is a major Christian pilgrimage site. I couldn’t take pictures inside, but took several of the exterior, and Donatello’s life-size statue of the Venetian mercenary, Gen Gattamelata (the first life-size equestrian statue cast in bronze since the decline of the Roman Empire). The basilica is huge inside with an altar sculpted by Donatello. St Anthony’s tomb is surrounded by wonderful reliefs and the offerings, notes, pictures, and so on left by the faithful in thanks for the miracles they believe he has performed for them. The Chapel of Reliquaries contains various Saintly body parts (e.g., his tongue, jaw and vocal chords) and a piece of the true cross preserved in glittering gold chalices.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Padua – Basilica of St Anthony
Just as the people of Sienna revere St Catherine, so do the people of Padua revere St Anthony - - in fact his tomb is a major Christian pilgrimage site. I couldn’t take pictures inside, but took several of the exterior, and Donatello’s life-size statue of the Venetian mercenary, Gen Gattamelata (the first life-size equestrian statue cast in bronze since the decline of the Roman Empire). The basilica is huge inside with an altar sculpted by Donatello. St Anthony’s tomb is surrounded by wonderful reliefs and the offerings, notes, pictures, and so on left by the faithful in thanks for the miracles they believe he has performed for them. The Chapel of Reliquaries contains various Saintly body parts (e.g., his tongue, jaw and vocal chords) and a piece of the true cross preserved in glittering gold chalices.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I hope NASA doesn't do the same with former branch chiefs!
ReplyDelete