It's all about the churches

FIRST DAY MORNING, and stop one was the church that set Martin Luther on his task of reforming the church.




He was disgusted with the ornate and overpowering sense of riches and went home to create his own version of Christianity.




The relic in the glass case was said to be wood from Jesus' cradle.




The second visit was to a more modest basilica, although with beautiful mosaics.




This glass case contained the body of St Catherine of Sienna.







After a few steps we reached the next church!




Mario explained that the tomb designed for the then Pope Julius II was so big that would have required a massive new church setting, and this partly explained the construction of the new St Peters Basilica. Pope Julius II apparently harassed Michaelangelo so much to finish his tomb that he had to leave Rome, until he was forced to return from Florence.







This is one part of the tomb. Moses is bigger and more important than the Pope, who is seen reclining below Mary.





This glass box contains the chains used on St Peter before he was killed.




There were more ... The ceiling of St Ignatius casting light into all four corners of the world... But who can go past the reliable skeleton brothers...




- Posted in post-Vatican torpor