Street Shrine in Vernazza
by Carolyn Derstine
Title
Street Shrine in Vernazza
Artist
Carolyn Derstine
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Italian cities and towns are full of street shrines of various shapes, sizes, and complexities. Images, particularly of Christ and of the Madonna, peer down at the tourist-filled streets. The tradition of public devotional imagery on the street derives from the ancient Roman custom of placing a painting or statue of a domestic deity at crossroads. Popular belief held that demons would come out at night and the deities were seen as protectors of the community. When Christianity replaced paganism, the Madonnelle (little Madonnas) were used to bridge the gap and continue the tradition of shrines. Now people just mumbled a prayer to the Madonnella they happened to be passing in order to protect themselves from evil. Saying a quick prayer when passing a shrine was as natural as greeting a friend. This shrine was along a lane in the Cinque Terre village of Vernazza.
Uploaded
August 31st, 2018
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