Arezzo, Florence & Venice,
Arezzo is off the tourist path, but as part of the old pilgrimage path. Luther stopped there, along with hundreds of medieval pilgrims, as he traveled from monastery to monastery.
The Augustian Church in Arezzo
Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance arts. This visit was really helpful to see the place of the Medici family, and their connection to Florence and Rome. Leo X, the pope excommunicated Luther, was a Medici, and when he became pope he brought a lot of the Florentine artists to do work in the Vatican. (I think it was Leo X who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine chapel on design the basilica of St Peter.)
Florence Dom and Baptistry
Leo X, painting by Raphael
There is a lot of art hanging around...
Da Vinci's Adoration of the Magi
The Medici collection even included some Cranach.
Chramach's portrait of Martin and Katie Luther was obtained in 1561 by the Medicis, 15 years after Luther's death, and just after the close of the council of Trent. Not sure what to make of this.
Venice is truely unique. It's hard to imagine a city with rivers for roads, but here it is. It's also easy to understand how the island is sunk a foot in the last hundred years with all these tourists coming to visit.
Back in 800 and something the Venetians stole the bones of St Mark from Alexandria, and his remains currently reside at the Basilica of St Mark. The mosaics are some of the most wonderful I've seen.
We were able to visit with some of the Italian Lutherans today. From left to right, Elisa, Pr Tyler McMiller, Keri, and Luis.
Christ is risen!
PrBW