Today is the the Feast of the Assumption - a national holiday certainly in Italy and many other European countries. Most things are closed and people head to church or the beach or the family home. Think I'll take the day off to but I'll leave you with this remarkable performance of the Ave Maris Stella from Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin. John Eliott Gardner conducting Monteverdi in San Marco in Venice - highly appropriate to the day or any day for that matter.
Buona Festa a tutti e buono ferragosto.
Thanks to Condoauta for posting this on YouTube.
15 agosto - Assunzione di Maria Virgine
Showing posts with label Feast of the Assumption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Feast of the Assumption. Show all posts
Friday, August 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Ferragosto
We’ve arrived in Rome at “the best of times ...the worst of times”: Ferragosto.
At least a third of the population have already left on their annual vacation and by the 15th the only people left in town will be tourists, us expats and the odd Roman whose work demands that they stick around while their friends bask in the sun at country retreats and resorts.
Only in August - Via Nomentana almost empty!
The best of times? The normal snarl of traffic is absent, parking spots are easy to find, the buses are empty and the stores (the few remaining open) are almost deserted.
We’ve also been warned to stock up supplies for the coming week – everything will be closed August 15th – the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin and the real start of Ferragosto. And just so this miraculous event can be celebrated in an appropriate fashion most things will be closed the 14th and chances are, to allow for recovery from the wonder of it all the 16th too.
13 agosto – S. Ippolito
At least a third of the population have already left on their annual vacation and by the 15th the only people left in town will be tourists, us expats and the odd Roman whose work demands that they stick around while their friends bask in the sun at country retreats and resorts.
Only in August - Via Nomentana almost empty!The best of times? The normal snarl of traffic is absent, parking spots are easy to find, the buses are empty and the stores (the few remaining open) are almost deserted.
Our local shopping drag - barred and lock for August
The worst of times? Almost everything is closed – the local fruit, vegetable and flower stalls are barred, store front grills are locked and signs indicate that, as an example, the local gelatoria (sob!) will not be serving double chocolate and black pepper ice cream again until 27 agosto. And except when budding Grand Prix drivers use them as practice courses those empty streets give the new arrival a false sense of tranquility. But soothsayer-like, more experienced hands have warned us: beware the 1st of September.We’ve also been warned to stock up supplies for the coming week – everything will be closed August 15th – the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin and the real start of Ferragosto. And just so this miraculous event can be celebrated in an appropriate fashion most things will be closed the 14th and chances are, to allow for recovery from the wonder of it all the 16th too.
13 agosto – S. Ippolito
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)