Tag: Knights Templar

The Ark of the Covenant, historical truths and legends

Within the collective imaginary of humanity, the Ark of the Covenant is the ultimate sacred object. It is the mystical artefact that has elicited the most profound fascination and mystery throughout the ages. However, no one knows what became of this container, altar of the divine manifestation of YHWH, memorial of the law given to…
The History of the First Crusade, from Clermont to Jerusalem

On 27 November 1095, at the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II urged the European princes to organise the First Crusade to liberate Jerusalem and defend the Holy Sepulchre of Christ. “Jerusalem is the navel of the world, […] this royal city, situated at the centre of the world, is now held captive by His…
Trani Cathedral and the church of Ognissanti, Templar clues

The wind of Trani blew placidly to Eastern, where the salvation waits for men who act according to God’s will. It was revealed to the heart of those departing soldiers. Harnessed among a thousand and shining armor, they aspired to reconquest Jerusalem. A crusade was not a simple travel. It delineated the border among the…
The cosmic temple of St. Michael the Archangel in Perugia

A hillock stands close to the city walls, and on it there is a sacred building that reflects the harmony of the cosmos. The temple of St. Michael the Archangel in Perugia is circular, as symbol of the perfection of all creation, but also image and anticipation of the heavenly Jerusalem. There is an eschatological…
The Cross Pattée of the Knights Templar

In the Middle Ages, many pilgrims decided to undertake a long journey to reach the sites of Christianity in the Holy Land. For the faithful, the peregrination was not only a metaphor for man’s condition on earth, but constituted a privileged path of redemption. The hardships of the path were a means of purification and…
The mysterious Christ in the labyrinth of Alatri

Alatri, 1997. During restoration work on a room adjacent to the cloister of Saint Francis church, some colours faded by time emerged from a narrow passage. The building was erected starting in 1220 and its adjoining convent dates back to 13591. Certainly the unexpected room, lost in the oblivion of time, was probably part of…
Valvisciolo Abbey in Sermoneta, a Templar site

Valvisciolo Abbey stands in a place of pleasant beauty, suspended between the earth and the firmament, where the Lepini Mountains caress the great plain of the Agro Pontino. The ancient monastery rests on the slopes with an innate harmony, as if it had been part of that Arcadian landscape since time immemorial. Its church gazes…
The symbology of the Rotunda of Saint Thomas

A pretty tree-lined avenue leads to the Rotunda of Saint Thomas. Fallen orange and brown leaves cover the ground. Although the autumn advances with an atmosphere of transience, the centuries-old trees on either side of the short walkway seem not care. The graceful place gives a lot of tranquillity and inspires inner peace. Under a…
The Colossus of Barletta, echoes from the East

An imposing bronze statue seems to stare with icy eyes at the tourists walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Barletta. It is a familiar figure to the locals, who call it Arè, short for Heraclius. Heraclius is about four and a half meters tall, and his appearance testifies to centuries of life, partially mysterious. This…
The search for the Holy Grail, the chalice of Christ

Sacred vessel, mystical object of faith, but also magic stone, treasure of knowledge, heart of man: what the Holy Grail is, no one can know. It eludes the intellect, as only mystery can. Many have undertaken the search for it, always following faint traces, as elusive as the enchantment of a legend on the edge…