A little bit of Italy: Lady Madonna

In honor of Lent, I was inspired to write in my blog for the first time in 2012. It has been a little while, and I apologize for that. I'd like to blame my lack of efficient internet, but if I really wanted to write I would have found a way.  

I was a very lucky girl, who got to travel to Italy for Christmas and New Years this year. Well, I actually spent Christmas Eve in the air flying from Thailand --> France-->Italy. It was quite a trip. I left Bangkok, late at night and got to extend my Christmas Eve flying back in time over India, Africa, and Europe.

 It was really special, but I missed my travel buddy [Nick Watt]. 

 I could bore you with the same tired pictures of The Vatican City, or The Colosseum but I thought I would share some of those art works, and the story behind them with you. 

Everywhere you look in Rome, you are surrounded by amazing history! I've always loved Washington D.C. for the same reason, and I always will. But Rome is different. Here there are centuries of history on every street corner. Everywhere you look something amazing has happened or is built there. We had gone on a couple of walking tours and strolled the streets ourselves. Over the couple of days we were there I had  started to notice these random art works of The Lady Madonna on sides of buildings. I just took it for what it was worth, we were in the Mecca of Catholicism.(Haha) But later learned the history behind these beautiful relics. 

May I introduce to you The Madonella: Or who may be more commonly known as 

Mary and Baby Jesus 

            A long long time ago, the streets of Rome were not a safe place to live. Not many people would go out after dark, and if they did there was no guarantee they would make it home safe. Rome is so close to the Vatican City, so Catholicism has a lot of influence over the city and the Italian people. In order to cut back on crime and help make the streets safe again artist of all kinds had crafted artwork of Mary and baby Jesus. In the hopes that people would feel and see them watching over them, and not commit crimes. Most were used to hold torches and light up the streets. If you saw them on the side of a building, you knew you were in a safe part of Rome. It actually worked and the crime in Rome went down! Catholic guilt at its best ;) 

Over the years the Vatican has stopped the funding of the upkeep of the Modenellas. It is up to the owner of the building to clean and take care of it at their own discretion. So many of them are slipping away but there are still a plethora of vibrant ones around any corner. 

Until next time...

Salute!