Buongiorno from Italy
Entering Milan felt much like entering a modern American city. I observed graffiti on the walls and narrow streets with many curves. The biggest difference I noticed was that the cars drive much closer together, I could stick my hand out the window and touch the opposing traffic. Milan did not strike me as being a special city, until a short walk past the modern shops that brought me to the center piece of the city, the Duomo.
The Duomo is a quite impressive structure. It is the fifth largest cathedral in the world, and the fourth largest in Europe. Construction on the gothic style cathedral ran from 1386 to 1810, with the final touches completed in 1965. Built completely of marble, the Duomo is constructed of multiple towers with over one hundred spirals at the top. The exterior wall exhibits many sculptures of religious figures, which adorn the building on all sides, from the bottom to the top. The exterior structure reminded me of a wedding cake, with a large base, and each layer tapering up, until your eyes gaze on the single highest spire. The exterior was incredible, while the inside was much less impressive. Stain glass abounded in bright bold colors, yet these colors dimmed the incoming sunlight. The walls were decorated with various sculptures. The shear height of the ceiling was impressive, but when I gazed up into the dim light, I was left with a feeling of emptiness, because there was this massive unadorned space. The Duomo is an architectural masterpiece, but it just felt more like a tourist attraction, rather than a place of worship.
Andiamo to Venice! Venice is more than I could fathom in my wildest imagination. Entering on a boat through the Grand Canal, I immediately felt like I was somewhere foreign and magical. In Venice I had emotions of wonder and surprise, as opposed to Milan. Just like both cities had different impressions on me, so did their famous cathedrals.
The Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco, in St. Mark’s Square was much different from the Duomo in Milan. This Byzantine style cathedral was constructed between 1084 and 1117. I did not find the exterior of this cathedral to be nearly as impressive as the Milan Duomo, and for this reason I initially didn’t want to go in. On the exterior, there
were a few gold mosaics, which I found out were just a glimpse of what was inside. On the interior the gold mosaics that adorned the walls and ceilings overwhelmed me. I stared directly upward until my neck grew stiff. The stories of the bible were brought to life around me on all sides. The details in each mosaic are astounding. The figures looked alive and yet captured in their moment in time. Even though it was dark in the Basilica, the gold tiles reflected the light and illuminated me. This illumination made me feel whole. It made me feel that all the answers to life were in this building, and that God has a plan for me, even though I may currently be unaware of what it is. I tried to commit every precious detail to memory, because photos were not permitted. The Basilica felt like a holy place of worship, and not just another tourist attraction. The exterior may not have been impressive, but the inside was indescribable.
Each structure was magnificent in its own way. I found the exterior of the Milan Duomo to be much more engaging than the interior. On the other hand, the Basilica in St. Mark's square was less impressive on the outside, but the interior is something that I will never forget. When I entered the Basilica, I truly fell in love with Italy. That moment was overwhelming, and that feeling of love and acceptance from God has stayed with me on this journey, and has left me with a new and different outlook on life.
-Brittany Pease
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