Last year, I wrote about a Cannaregio shrine that's on the verge of being covered over by hanging ivy. Then in a little corte close to the Arsenale, I found this one that's completely overgrown with some kind of vine. I wish I'd had some gardening shears! I couldn't see inside the shrine, so I stuck my camera through the overgrowth and snapped and was surprised by what I saw when I looked at the camera screen.
Of course, there's a Madonna inside but this is another one of those family or neighborhood memorial shrines like the big blue one in Castello. Makes me sad that it's overgrown; I guess the people who took care of this one have died or moved away.
Comments (7)
Wow! I kind of like the look of the shrine in the middle of the vines.
The most likely explanation is that the people who took care of it are no longer there, but I also wonder if the vines were left to grow to provide privacy.
Good catch on this one, must have been really hard to spot.
Posted by Candi | March 22, 2010 9:53 PM
Posted on March 22, 2010 21:53
The vines make it seem very mysterious....as you suggest, maybe the family somehow lost interest, or left town.
Posted by sandrac | March 22, 2010 10:03 PM
Posted on March 22, 2010 22:03
Was it indicated in your book on the venetian shrines? I'm sure I would have missed it! What an eye you have!
Have a nice week Annie!
Posted by AnnaLivia | March 22, 2010 10:15 PM
Posted on March 22, 2010 22:15
Candi, I like your theory. Sandra, I agree that it looks very mysterious.
AnnaLivia, no I didn't have the Capitelli book yet when I found this one. I was looking for something else close to the Arsenale. I did check the book which has a photo of this shrine (without the vines growing over, though you can see the vines above it). It says that it's a humble and simple shrine, very typical of the working class neighborhoods around the Arsenale.
Posted by Annie | March 23, 2010 9:17 AM
Posted on March 23, 2010 09:17
Oh how beautiful, and poignant. The photos look outdated...perhaps the family created the shrine and are now intentionally leaving it to age with their memories (?)
Posted by Anne | March 24, 2010 11:16 AM
Posted on March 24, 2010 11:16
I kind of like that this shrine is very private and kept hidden by foliage. The black and white photos look like the type found at the cemeteries, on the tombs. I also believe that the "sweet abandon" of the shrine is due to the caretaker(s) not being around anymore.
Posted by Maria I. | March 25, 2010 10:57 PM
Posted on March 25, 2010 22:57
Maria, it reminds me of the cemetary too. And I think you're right, it's possible that this family moved to the mainland and just isn't around the take care of this shrine anymore.
Posted by Annie | March 26, 2010 10:27 AM
Posted on March 26, 2010 10:27