Today's trip to Savoca was full of fun stories! Here's a few from MSFS,
Alexis Kelly.
July 29th, 2017
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| A view from Savoca |
As normal,
the morning started with cappuccinos and croissants at the Poker Bar. We were
then off to the bus to make the trip to Savoca. I was told the views were great, but all I saw was the inside of my eyelids, so I have to take everyone’s word
for it. Upon arriving to Savoca, it immediately was a different style place
than what we have been used to seeing in Santa Lucia del Mela and Piranio. This
was more of a tourist attraction and it was exciting for those who have seen the movie, The Godfather.
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| A bar used in the filming of The Godfather |
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| Our first church of the day |
We trudged up hill (a common thing for the day) to get to the
first church. This was a 13th century church and it was beautiful.
There were five alters that were for different patron statues. The second
church we stopped in was dedicated to Mary, the Mother Church. This was the
church where mummification took place. The third church we went to was in
danger; it is in the process of being restored. This was the church of Saint
Michael. Most of the students, myself included, purchased items that the
proceeds went to the restoration of the church. In addition, we paid to visit the
churches so that our money also went towards the restoration. We then made our way back down the
hill to get some souvenirs and wait until it was time for lunch.
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| Our second visit was to the Mother Church |
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| Dr. Piombino-Mascali reveals the entrance to the crypt |
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| This way to the last church of the day |
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| Restoration in progress at the Church of Saint Michael |
We were invited to have lunch in the same convent where the mummies that we came to see are kept. Lunch was prepared by Claudia and it included a delicious
pasta with peas, mushrooms, and sausage. As if it couldn’t get any better, there
was a SECOND COURSE! This was beef in a lemon sauce and salad, and then, of
course, fresh fruit was served afterward. During lunch, Siegmund Wagner, a German artist that lives in
Savoca, joined us. Siegmund created beautiful paintings of the mummies that we were about to meet, so it was great to get to talk with him about his work and connection with the mummies.
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| Lunch at the convent |
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| Pasta with sausage, tomato, and peas (a.k.a. Boscaiola) |
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| Our second course was veal scallopini with a lemon sauce and a fresh salad on the side |
Now for
the crypt! As many of my fellow students saw, I was very excited and couldn’t contain it. There were 17 mummies that we saw, most of which were nobility in
status, however, because there were no labels the identities of the mummies were lost. Each student
studied a mummy more in depth and later explained what they saw to the rest of the
group. The mummy I chose caught my attention because of how well-preserved he
was; however, many of them were well-preserved for how old they are.
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| Entrance to the crypt from the church |
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| Alexis shares with the class what she has observed from her mummy |
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| Off to the museum! |
Thanks to
the generosity of Santo Lombardo, the director of the Historical and Ethno-Anthropological Museum of the City of Savoca, we were
able to enter free of charge. The museum had ceramics and tools, pieces of The Godfather iconography, as well as an area for the mummies that we had previously
seen. Dr. Piombino-Mascali
had a display table made by a family from Santa Lucia del Mela to hold a very special set of items relating to
the mummies. These items were instruments belonging to the late Dr. Art Aufderheide, also known as "the father of mummy studies", who worked on these and many other mummies across the world. The cloth beneath the instruments was made from the same fabric as that we saw on the pillow of the
Blessed Antonio Franco. One of Dr. Piombino-Mascali's family members stitched the trim on the cloth.
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| Lights, camera, and action! |
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| In memory of a great Paleopathologist and Mummologist, Dr. Aufderheide |
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| Dr. Aufderheide's priceless tools; donated my Dr. Piombino-Mascali. |
Of course, we had to make a gelato stop. It wouldn’t be a day in Italy without gelato or
granita. Then it was back to our own convent in Santa Lucia del Mela for dinner. Carmelina made pork,
mushrooms, and rice which was delicious…of course. Today was definitely one of
my favorite days and just makes me more excited for the rest of this trip!
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| Pork and mushrooms |
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| Rice, meat, and vegetables |
