We were met by a gentleman who was going to lead a tour. I was the only English speaking visitor; there were four Italian speakers, including my taxi driver, who had never visited there and wanted to see it. The gentleman explained that he would speak to the Italian speakers first, and then to me, which worked out fine, as it gave me more time to look around.
The Italian speakers left after their visit including my taxi driver! The gentleman explained the church and the burial area, and answered my questions. He said that since Lucrezia Borgia had been educated by nuns in the Vatican, she felt very comfortable with nuns, and that she visited the Poor Clares at Corpus Domini every day.
She became very close to the nuns there, and that is why she requested to be buried there, instead of the larger church where many of the Este family were already buried. He also said that later many of those family members' bodies were transferred and reburied at Corpus Domini. While it is not easy to visit Corpus Domini, it was totally worthwhile because of the kindness of the gentleman leading the tour.
I was drawn to this lesser-known site in search of the Estense Tombs, where lie interred Alfonso I D'Este, his second wife Lucrezia Borgia, and some of their children, among other members of the Ferrarese family.
However, despite the clearly visible "Visiting hours" sign placed outside the front door, and some previously made inquiries over the phone to ensure that it would be open on the day I wanted to go for a visit, seeing the tombs proved to be more of a challenge than I had initially anticipated.
Having thoroughly respected the visiting hours of the Tombs, it was almost impossible to get a hold of anyone in the Monastero to open the front door, even after knocking several times and ringing the bell.
At length, someone appeared, but found it difficult to understand what I wanted to see. It took several attempts in gestured Italian before being admitted through a side door leading to a small church, where I was made to wait well over an hour before I was told to step through another door behind the altar to the room where the Tombs are.
Back home, and reading through some online comments of other people on the Monastero del Corpus Domini, I can see that I was not the only one facing difficulties getting to the Tombs, which despite being worth the visit, don't really justify the over ninety-minute wait to lay an eye on -- especially when visiting hours are so blatantly displayed just outside the main entrance.
My advice, for those who really want to see the Tombs: attempt the visit during the morning hours -- if it fails, take the lunch interval to see Castelo Estense, the Cathedral, grab a bite to eat, and then return for the afternoon visit.
Be prepared to speak Italian, be humble and patient. If you're lucky, you might just make it. Skip to main content. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travelers. Monastero del Corpus Domini. Via Pergolato 4 , , Ferrara, Italy. Review Highlights. Reviewed October 31, Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Already subscribed? Log in. Forgotten your password? Want an ad-free experience? In alliance with the French the two of them set out to bring the central Italian cities back under direct papal control and carve out an Italian kingdom for Cesare himself. The doctors sank him in a huge jar of iced water as a cure and he somehow survived the shock, but the cardinals chose as the new pope a dedicated enemy of the Borgias, Giuliano della Rovere, who succeeded as Julius II.
When Italy was at last united in the nineteenth century, Cesare could be hailed as a forerunner of Italian unity, though his motives were entirely self-interested.
He was now arrested and packed off to prison in Spain. He managed to escape and took service with his brother-in-law, King John of Navarre. He planned to return to Italy before long, but meanwhile there was a rebellion against King John to contend with and Cesare took command of a 5,strong Basque army to deal with the rebels.
Jude hoards billions while many of Its families drain their savings. Jude does not relieve all the financial burdens they incur in getting care for their children. Some have been raped on the way to the border. Alaska Airlines pulling plastic cups, bottles from all flights immediately. Activist Malala Yousafzai announces marriage. Google celebrates Veterans Day with new Doodle.
0コメント