Day 4- A trip into the Italian Countryside- Orvieto

Today, we took a double-decker bus about 1.4 hours north to the city of Orvieto.  Serenely perched high on a bluff overlooking the mountain valleys around, it is most known for its 700 year old Eucharistic miracle.  At that time a priest was offering the Holy Mass, while on a pilgrimage to Rome but his faith that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Jesus was wavering.  At that moment, the host of bread started bleeding and that blood splashed down on the corporal (a white linen altar cloth that covers the altar).  This cloth is preserved under glass in a side chapel to this day.  The miracle inspired the famous theologian Thomas Aquinas, to compose famous Latin chants in honor of our Lord in the Eucharist that we use to this day, that of the Pange Lingua and the Tantum Ergo.  Additionally the solemn feast of Corpus Christi (the Body of Jesus) was also created and a procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the corporal was first made here.

We were fortunate enough to have Mass in the side chapel of the Duomo, (cathedral) where we could look up at the corporal. What an amazing building the Duomo is!  It's elaborate exterior is literally a picture book of the entire bible, built in the medieval period, which allowed all who passed by to learn the main stories of the bible, both Old and New Testament.  This was extremely important in a time when few could actually read.

We also were able to wander around the charming town and visited a few more churches and I had my first authentic pizza margherita, too! Yum!

Then it was back to the bus for a ride through the countryside to Rome.

 fields of sunflowers

 mountains!

 first glimpse of the city way up on the hill

 the incline railway we took to get to the summit of the city

 preparing to move out

 approaching the Duomo

 such a beautiful place! couldn't take photos though :(

 a small church dedicated to St. Joseph that we found while walking

views of the countryside

 I'm surveying the sights

 so many alleys to explore! alas, so little time!

 Romans & their Latin inscriptions

 the word "Caesar" is visible at the top of this ancient pillar

 One last look, then back to Rome!

 

Thanks for journeying with me folks! God love you!