14 October 2010

The Penitents of Saorge


A couple of weekends ago there was a gathering in Gorbio of 250 Penitents from Nice, Monaco, from the hinterland around here and along the coast. It's only once in every ten years that it comes to Gorbio - so an important day for this medieval village.

It started with a procession through the village followed by a service in the church presided over by no less a personage than the bishop. Later lunch was served in one of the village squares.

In this photo we see the Penitents Blancs of Saorge. Saorge is a beautiful perched village in the Roya valley, way way above Menton.

6 comments:

  1. Saorge ... another place to visit one day, I hope!

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  2. And that means, Peter, you will be coming to visit! Great. Yes it's a lovely trip up into the mountains. You'd love it. Fabulous old church in this village too.

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  3. All things wonderful. Nice photo, Jilly.

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  4. belle procession dans ce village

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  5. I like how you have caught them in this 'fluid' pose. The name Saorge, like manmy places there, has still a vague Italian flavour...

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  6. I don't know much about this custom but your penitents in your photo look medieval.

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