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Reader Reviews | |
Review by Julie Falkner (300907) Rating (8/10) Review
by Julie Falkner Vardey features a dozen or so Italian saints, ranging from St Francis of Assisi to the less well-known St Vitale, and also offers a four-day pilgrimage in Rome. Each chapter begins with a description of the life of the saint - essential background for following in his or her footsteps - and then provides “Spiritual Essentials”, explaining what we know of the saint’s teaching. Finally the suggested pilgrimage (the length of these ranges from one to six days) is described in detail. Occasionally Vardey takes a break from the saints to focus instead on Italy’s artistic heritage in sections entitled “Art and Soul”. The book also contains some practical advice, for example: “It is easier to find your way in [to Rome], if you are driving a car, than to discover the right exit out.” Given this observation, more information on public transport options would have been helpful. While Vardey notes that the Roman pilgrimage can be taken by bus, she says nothing further on this topic.
Traveling with the Saints in Italy will be of interest
to anyone who wants to know more about the lives of these revered
figures, but the best way to use this book is to plan a trip to
Italy and to include it in your luggage. Choose a pilgrimage,
follow it in part or in full, and allow your travel experience
to be enriched by a greater understanding of the spiritual significance
of each place visited. |
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