Today, our first full day of IES orientation and excursions, etc., marked an excursion into Mariazell. The town is very remote, a sort of city on a hill. Pilgrims come on walking (and bus) pilgrimages to the church here, where the Maria, in the Zell, eventually had a gothic+baroque basilica built around it. Before I actually visited the basilica, however, I went to the Volksmuseum and saw the traditional life of people in the region. I took some good pictures and learned some interesting things. Mostly however, I learned how they best us:
 |
| Cooler rustic pianos... (Catherine) |
 |
| Bigger woodworking tools... (Dad) |
 |
| Bigger hiking boots... (Dad) |
 |
Bigger Christmas village... (Mom)
|
 |
| Better pirate cast-iron tombstones |
In any case... The museum was interesting. After we got done there the Arts & Architecture professor took us on a tour of the basilica, explaining the story of the monk who was carrying a limewood statuette of Mary and was chased by robbers against a wall until he had no choice but to pray. The wall opened up, and then he came to a place of safety, where he placed the statuette. Later, two princes of different nationalities were praying for gout-healing and turk-beating miracles, respectively. Both succeeded and hence first a Gothic, and later a Baroque church. The Gothic was covered in Baroque ornamentations, and the church itself was too small so true Baroque sections were later added. Inside was an incredible solid silver altar with the statuette of Mary, as well as angels that got melted down in the reformation and had to be replaced by plated ones. The statuette has all sorts of gift clothing, and so is only "naked" (with the carved clothes, of course) two times a year for special occasions. I hope to have a little more on the town and so forth, tomorrow!
Comments
Post a Comment