On Easter Sunday I took a train to Rome in the morning. Upon arrival at the station it was raining so I took the metro to San Giovanni to attend mass at the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. It was my first time there, so I checked the city map in the metro station and hoped the basilica was easy enough to find. When I walked up to the street it was raining quite hard, but there was what appeared as a river of umbrellas pouring into a large building facade. In following the crowds I found it was the basilica and the mass had begun. It was a beautiful high mass led by a bishop and about thirty priests. There were processions and a choir with organ accompaniment. After the mass I wandered through the basilica to view the chapels and works of art. The next mass began but it was given by only one priest with no choir. I'm so glad I arrived earlier and was able to see the high mass.
After the mass the crowds braved the thunderstorms to the metro station and myself in the direction of the Spagna stop to check into the hotel. It was charming and very close to the Spanish Steps. Here are the views from the room, straight out, looking left, looking right and down to the street:
1 comment:
Omigod! you have such a great sense of composition that you can make an ugly building look beautiful!
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