Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
|
The Basilica
in Palermo, Sicily
Dedicated to the Assumption
of the Virgin Mary
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Currency Converter
Palermo, Sicily has a few
basilicas, but the most famous is likely the
Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.
It's a truly stunning building
with a complex history, reflecting the various cultures that have influenced
Palermo over the centuries.
Take a look below.
The front entrance to the Cathedral
We arrived on a beautiful sunny morning to
see this massive structure which has survived centuries of invasions, plagues,
renovations and politics.
Construction began in 1185 on the site of a
former mosque, which itself was built over an earlier Byzantine basilica.
Each invader tended to destroy, build over or
modify the structure on an earlier site of worship, leaving their architectural
mark which is evidenced today.
Walking into the gated area of the
basilica
Architecturally speaking, there are components of Norman, Arab, Byzantine and
Renaissance details in the construction of this basilica.
It's a beautiful building, no doubt, and one
worth visiting.
Looking back on why those architectural changes were made by the Conquerors of
the Age tells a different story. Each invader made a statement to the current
population they wanted to control: "We are taking your place of worship and
installing our own."
Taking over houses of worship throws a moral and emotional blow to the local
population. Upgrades
and renovations are a different matter, of course.
Billy and Akaisha in front of the Basilica
This church dedicated to the Assumption of
the Virgin Mary is a well-known tourist site due to the beauty and history of
the building.
It's a spectacular morning as you can
see.
The distinctive entrance
If you look at the top of the Cathedral, you
will see what are called crenels (or crenelles). These are the gaps or openings in the parapet that allow
defenders to fire arrows or other projectiles at attackers while still having
some protection.
The solid sections of wall between the
crenels are called merlons. The soldiers (who are defending the building of
faith and all the treasure within) are somewhat protected by these solid
sections of wall as they view the battle field below.
Can you imagine?
A battlefield in front of this Cathedral, and
this happened over and over again throughout the centuries.
These structures are a distinctive feature of
medieval military architecture and you can find them on
castles and forts around the world.
On the right hand side of the center entrance
is a stone inscription of a verse from the Quran, when this was a Muslim Mosque.
The beautiful, peaceful interior of the
Cathedral
Basilicas
are very wealthy places. They might hold religious
relics, gold and silver ornaments, and artworks that could be sold for a high
price. So invaders wanted these items to enhance their own treasure and to fund
the expansion of their armies.
And, just to emphasize, by
attacking a basilica, invaders could strike a blow against the morale of the
people they were conquering. It made it easier to control the
population and to erase the cultural identity of the conquered people.
Right now, this building is serving as a
symbol of Christian authority. But previously when it was a Mosque, it
manifested Muslim authority.
Another look inside
Here you see marble columns, beautiful wooden
pews, ornate carvings on the side walls, statues, and painted ceilings.
There are chandeliers, wrought iron
candelabras, and marble flooring.
Today, it's hard to imagine the chaos this
place has experienced.
Coat of Arms, Ferdinand III of Sicily
This is a very ornate sculpture/coat of arms
of Ferdinand III of Sicily - who was Christian. You have Angels, and the cross,
and an eagle in the center.
A side chapel in the Cathedral
Side chapels offer a smaller area for
worship, perhaps with a favored saint.
These beautifully adorned chapels add
dimension to the already stunning cathedral.
Stations of the cross are on either side of
this entrance.
A solar meridian on the Cathedral floor
This Heliometer - or solar observatory - was
built in 1801.
A tiny hole in a minor dome serves as a
pinhole camera, projecting an image of the sun onto the floor.
This bronze line runs precisely North and
South, so at solar noon (about 12pm in winter, 1pm in summer) the sun passes
through this line.
The astrological signs above are Aries on top
and Libra on the bottom.
Another look at the Heliometer
At different
times of the year the passage of the sun occurs at different point of the line.
The ends of
the line mark the positions at the summer and winter solstices, and the signs of the
zodiac show various dates throughout the year.
The zodiac signs above are Gemini, Cancer and
Leo.
The purpose of this instrument was
to standardize the measurement of time and the calendar to provide the correct
date for Easter.
Vaulted ceilings and archways
Here is a closer look at the vaulted
ceilings, arches, skylights.
Beautifully painted and engraved ceilings,
decorative moldings, wrought iron gates, and candelabras.
Ornate carved statue
This statue appears to be St. Peter being
carried to heaven by cherub angels.
Marble columns are on either side and brass
candlesticks are in front.
These churches hold a lot of wealth, so no
wonder invaders wanted to pillage them.
This cathedral in Palermo is like a time
capsule, with history carved into the walls, the columns, statues, flooring and
ceilings.
Deserves a visit, and
entrance is free.
__________
Palermo Cathedral
Via Vittorio Emanuele
90040 Palermo, Italy
Tele: 091 334373
Retire
Early Lifestyle appeals to a different
kind of person – the person who prizes their
independence, values their time, and who doesn’t
want to mindlessly follow the crowd.
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