The three magi riding on horsebacks, approaching Bethlehem. The two first show the direction with their hand. The annunciation to the shepherds. Another angle guards the swaddled Jesus in the crib. Ox and ass watch him as well.

Tags:   Italy Tuscany Pienza Magi

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The side door, showing the three magi on the lintel and fighting scenes on the rigt pillar..

Tags:   Italy Tuscany Pienza Magi

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The top part of the pight pillar next to the main entrance

Tags:   Italy Tuscany Pienza

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The small 12th century church was built from tuff. Silvius Piccolomini was baptized in this church, who being Pope Pio II later, renamed and remodeled Pienza - but fortunately did not touch the Pieve di Corsignano. Here is the lintel of the main entrance, seeming very mythological and fantastic to me. A twotailed siren in the middle, another onetailed left, holding a kind of violin, a "beast" whispers into her ear. Maybe even licks the ear. Two ladies dancing (?) on the right side - and another beasts, whispering or licking. On boths sides under the lintel (not on the photo) are two very weathered and partly destroyed exhibitionistic figures. Male left - femal right.

Tags:   Italy Tuscany Pienza mermaid fish siren moyen-age middle-ages ear-whisperer

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..there was a very narrow stair leading down into the dark. A strange smell. Reached the end of the stair. Now it was pitchdark. There was an iron grill. I walked on very cautiosly and found out, that there was a big pillar. The only way, to see that, was to use the flashlight. So I saw, that in the middle of the low dark crypt of the small church is a massive pillar with an archaic capital, compared to the carvings "upstairs". Maybe the crypt is older..

Tags:   Italy Tuscany Pienza moyen-age middle-ages Mittelalter crypt

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