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:

Peter said...

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

Jilly said...

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.

Abraham Lincoln said...

All things wonderful. Nice photo, Jilly.

Olivier said...

belle procession dans ce village

VP said...

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

Dina said...

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

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