...or "nicchia" in Italian. Some street shrines are tabernacles hanging on the wall but others, like these, are a niche inside the wall.
All of these Venetian shrines have the Virgin Mary inside but as you can see, she has many faces and styles.
As I said in my "G is for Graffiti" post, Venice has a graffiti problem. It's rare to see a street shrine defaced but the one below has some spray paint on Mary's face.
Visit the home of ABC Wednesday to find more Round 10 participants!
Comments (11)
I love finding niches...of all kinds.
Posted by Meryl | April 17, 2012 12:35 PM
Posted on April 17, 2012 12:35
NICE variety of icons.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Posted by Roger Green | April 17, 2012 1:02 PM
Posted on April 17, 2012 13:02
Beautiful different icons of Mary. Its a shame that graffiti has to mar the beauty.
Posted by photowannabe | April 17, 2012 1:13 PM
Posted on April 17, 2012 13:13
That first shrine (Campiello dei Calegheri) certainly has a choice of addresses! I've seen plenty of doors in Venice with multiple bell-pushes but only one civic number. But there are no bell-pushes at this door. So how does it get four numbers?
**************************************
Bert, it actually has five numbers! 2560 is to the side, out of the photo. I have no clue! Annie
Posted by Bert | April 17, 2012 3:18 PM
Posted on April 17, 2012 15:18
Niche is a great word for N day. I always enjoy your shots from Venice so much. That is a shame about Mary getting spray painted. Carver, ABC Wednesday Team
Posted by Carver | April 17, 2012 3:30 PM
Posted on April 17, 2012 15:30
not only are the photos awesome, but i really like the word niche. i like how it sounds and how it rolls off people's tongues.
Posted by Ewok | April 17, 2012 3:45 PM
Posted on April 17, 2012 15:45
Hi Annie, I love the Italian translation for Niche. This is a wonderful photo collection. There's something very endearing about the second to the last shrine. I feel terrible that the last shrine was vandalized and in such an not very nice way (on Mary's face).
Great choice for this week's letter. Have a wonderful week.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | April 17, 2012 10:31 PM
Posted on April 17, 2012 22:31
Oh, yes! I see it now, under the lintel!
It was a rhetorical question, Annie. I doubt if anyone understands the Venetian civic numbering system.
************************************
Isn't that the truth, Bert! I think this one is amusing. Annie
Posted by Bert | April 18, 2012 5:53 AM
Posted on April 18, 2012 05:53
Beautiful shots as always!!
Posted by Mar | April 18, 2012 9:26 AM
Posted on April 18, 2012 09:26
Pretty Neat!
Nursing to Nuclear Medicine
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team
Posted by chubskulit | April 18, 2012 4:43 PM
Posted on April 18, 2012 16:43
Love these small shrines and pocket religious sites!
Posted by Dyanna | April 18, 2012 8:52 PM
Posted on April 18, 2012 20:52