Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: grapes

Ferrara appears first in a document of the Lombard king Desiderius of 753 when he captured the town from the Exarchate of Ravenna. Later the Franks, after routing the Lombards, presented Ferrara to the Papacy in 754. In 988 Ferrara was ceded by the Church to the House of Canossa, but at the death of Matilda of Tuscany in 1115, it became a free commune. During the 12th century, the history of the town was marked by the wrestling for power between the Guelph Adelardi and the Ghibelline Salinguerra families. The Ghibellines won and in 1264 Obizzo II d'Este was proclaimed lifelong ruler of Ferrara. His rule marked the end of the communal period in Ferrara and the beginning of the Este rule, which lasted until 1598. The museum is located in the former church of San Romano. Benedictine monks were already in the monastery of San Romano in the 10th century, but it was later given to the regular canons of Sant'Agostino. The "Grape harvest scene" is attributed to "Maestro de Mesi" and dated 1220-1230

Vence was known in Roman times as "Vintium". It was the seat of a bishop as early as 419. Parts of the cathedral date back to early Merovingian times. The first church, built over the foundation of a Roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is a mixture of different styles from Carolingian to late baroque. Here is one of the Carolingian carvings that are now placed on the columns. Note the details, there are birds, grapes, flowers..

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. The small eye catching Romanesque church San Michele is easy to find, located on an isolated hill just outside Murato. It was erected from mid-12th century on and was consecrated in 1280. At that time Corsica was ruled by Pisa and so it was built in a bicolor typical Pisan style recognizable by the alternation of green (serpentine) and white (limestone) stones, very similar to the "Basilica di Saccargia" on the neighbouring island of Sardinia. The single nave church presents remarkable naive motifs on the walls that are amazing in their imagination and variety. The grape picker (see prev. upl.) - blessed and proud.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. The small eye catching Romanesque church San Michele is easy to find, located on an isolated hill just outside Murato. It was erected from mid-12th century on and was consecrated in 1280. At that time Corsica was ruled by Pisa and so it was built in a bicolor typical Pisan style recognizable by the alternation of green (serpentine) and white (limestone) stones, very similar to the "Basilica di Saccargia" on the neighbouring island of Sardinia. The single nave church presents remarkable naive motifs on the walls that are amazing in their imagination and variety. The angel (left) blesses the grapes and the grape picker.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed by the Normans in the 8th century. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. Bordeaux was one of the major halts on the Via Turonensis. The grave of Saint-Seurin was an important place for the many pilgrims. Another precious relic, shown here, was the ivory horn of Roland, who died at Roncevaux and whose (legendary) burial place most pilgrims will have seen in Blaye. Tradition claims that the horn "olifant", still reported in the 17th century and lost before the French Revolution, had been left by the Charlemagne on the altar of St. Seurin. The crypt below the church, that underwent many modifications, is part of a paleochristian necropolis. It may (in parts) date back to the 4th century. There are some nice sarcophagi, carved from pyreneen marble and dated into the 6th century. This one has a chrismon with Alpha and Omega and on the sides birds in a vinyard, pecking grapes.

Assisi is located on a steep slope (accessible via escalators) and a site of many a pilgrimage. Even in winter it can be very crowded - and a day before, we had to turn back, as all parking lots in the valley below were full. A day later, in heavy rain, we tried it again - and were in luck. This "Cattedrale di San Rufino" of today is the third church on this spot. They had been built over the tomb of Saint Rufinus, Bishop of Assisi, martyred in the 3rd century. The construction of the cathedral was started in 1134. When in 1228 Pope Gregory IX was in Assisi for the canonization of Saint Francis, he consecrated the high altar of the cathedral, that was finally completed in 1253. Of course during the long time of construction, the church was in use already. Saint Francis was baptized here in 1182, Saint Clare in 1193. The Romanesque façade of the Assisi-Cathedral is one of the richest in Umbria. A detailed view on to left side of the tympanum´s inner archivolt. Two men harvest grapes, below them are a pig (no boar) and a bird. To the left a cleric (?l) stands under an arch - and to the right two men hold a large vessel.

Mozac Abbey is one of the oldest monasteries in the Auvergne. Dating back into Merovingian times, a legend tells that it was founded by Calminius (later Saint Calmin). He must have been pretty important and well off, as his name is connected to the foundations of three abbeys. He introduced the benedictian rules to the area, and brought (from Rome)a relic of Saint Peter and (from Agen) a relic of Saint Caprasius to Mozac. He got buried in the crypt of this church together with his wife Saint Namadie. Within the 9th century relics of Saint Austremonius, the first bishop of Clermont were transferred to Mozac, so already before Santiago de Compostella was on the map, this was a place of pilgrimage. In 1095 Mozac abbey got affiliated to Cluny, but was important enough, to have Hugue of Semur, nephew of Hugue of Cluny here as abbot. He was followed by Eustachius, brother of Petrus Venerabilis. Three churches could be traced by archeologists, what can be seen today is "Mozac 3", a great church built within the first half of the 12th century. As most of "Mozac 3" got destroyed by a number earthquakes between 1437 and 1490, actually only ruins can be seen. Apses, choir, ambulatory, radial chapels, transept and clerestorys were beyond repair, when the early reconstruction started - in gothic style. Most pillars and capitals of "Mozac 3" are still in place (in situ). Some / Most of the carvings here are so "perfect", that they seem to be much younger, even baroque, but all are - 12th century - romanesque. - This capital is known under different names: "The Winegrowers" or "The Harvest" or "The Stealer". In case these are not two winegrowers harvesting grapes, it could well be, that the left person (eating and holding a spear) is guarding the vineyard, while behind him the grapes get snatched. Now, seen from a different angle, the guardian seems daydreaming, while the stealer is crawling and cutting the grapes with a knife.

Mozac Abbey is one of the oldest monasteries in the Auvergne. Dating back into Merovingian times, a legend tells that it was founded by Calminius (later Saint Calmin). He must have been pretty important and well off, as his name is connected to the foundations of three abbeys. He introduced the benedictian rules to the area, and brought (from Rome)a relic of Saint Peter and (from Agen) a relic of Saint Caprasius to Mozac. He got buried in the crypt of this church together with his wife Saint Namadie. Within the 9th century relics of Saint Austremonius, the first bishop of Clermont were transferred to Mozac, so already before Santiago de Compostella was on the map, this was a place of pilgrimage. In 1095 Mozac abbey got affiliated to Cluny, but was important enough, to have Hugue of Semur, nephew of Hugue of Cluny here as abbot. He was followed by Eustachius, brother of Petrus Venerabilis. Three churches could be traced by archeologists, what can be seen today is "Mozac 3", a great church built within the first half of the 12th century. As most of "Mozac 3" got destroyed by a number earthquakes between 1437 and 1490, actually only ruins can be seen. Apses, choir, ambulatory, radial chapels, transept and clerestorys were beyond repair, when the early reconstruction started - in gothic style. Most pillars and capitals of "Mozac 3" are still in place (in situ). Some / Most of the carvings here are so "perfect", that they seem to be much younger, even baroque, but all are - 12th century - romanesque. - This capital is known under different names: "The Winegrowers" or "The Harvest" or "The Stealer". In case these are not two winegrowers harvesting grapes, it could well be, that the left person (eating and holding a spear) is guarding the vineyard, while behind him the grapes get snatched.

A Benedictian monastery was founded by Hiberno-Scottish monks in Regensburg already around 1070. Soon after, the convent moved to a place just outside the city walls and in started to erect first buildings. The first church, consecrated in 1120, was of such a poor workmanship, that the convent decided to tear it down (except one apse and the flanking towers) and restart the process. The church of today was completed before 1200. It is one of the most important Romanesque structures in Bavaria. The abbey was a hub for the Irish/Scottish mission to central Europe. Daughter establishments of St. Jakob were founded in Vienna (1155), Erfurt (1136), Wuerzburg (1138), Nuremberg (1140), Constance (1142), Eichstaett (1148), Memmingen (1178), Kiev (!) (late 12th century) and Kelheim (13th century). WHile the first monks and abbots were Irish, the Scottish period started after the Reformation with Scottish abbot Ninian Vincet (1577-1592). A century later Scottish priests were educated here to do missionary work back in Scotland. Abbot Benedikt Aburthnot (1737-1820) could avoid the secularisation in 1802 by making clear, that the monastery was a Scottish (not at all Bavarian!) national treasure. It took upto 1814 to incorporate the Scottish monastery into the Bavarian sovereignty. Monastic life finally ended here in 1862, when the buildings were taken over by the bishop, who 10 years later founded a still existing seminary here. The northern portal ("Schottenportal") is one of the most important (and largest) Romanesque works of art in Germany. It occupies a third of the church´s northern wall and is divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically, plus a small frieze that tops the central arch (the vertical center). While most authors reckon, that Irish masters created this portal, Marcel Durliat sees parallels to works in Northern Italy, created by the Comacine masters ("Magistri Comacini"). He even connects this portal to the carvings in Linden and Remagen. I doubt that.. The right side of the center has five snarling, fierce looking male lions, all having manes. The pillars are elaborately decorated with foliage. The middle-pillar has a bird, pecking grapes, just under the capital, from where a person looks down. There are three persons seen between the pillars (on their knees). The left one may be an acrobat, the middle, bearded one is a musician, playing a small string instrument. The right one, dressed in a kind of cape, holds his hands on his stomach.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. Despite the many alterations undertaken, many of the Romanesque capitals can still be found in the nave and the choir. An accidental combination of bad light conditions and a personal hypoglycemia lead to blurry photos. Sorry! This capital differs clearly in style and material from the others inside the church. It may be carved by the master (or the workshop) who created the four capitals outside the choir. A flock of birds is feasting in a vinyard. The owner of the grapes is not amused and tries to chase the birds away. He does not try to kill a bird, as the arrow he uses has no arrowhead.