I Lead Pilgrimages in Rome, Only Rome

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS TODAY!  BABY JESUS HAS ARRIVED AND APPEARS IN THE MANGER! In 1291 POPE NICCOLÒ IV COMMISSIONED TUSCAN BORN ARNOLFO DI CAMBIO AKA ARNOLFO DI LAPO TO SCULPT A NATIVITY THAT CELEBRATED AND MEMORIALIZED THE FIRST NATIVITY RECREATED LIVE BY ST. FRANCIS ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT 1223 in GRECCIO, RIETI PROVINCE. The POPE ASKED FOR SIMPLE LINES AND THIS SIMPLE MARBLE SCULPTURE ON DISPLAY AT LA BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE IN ROME WAS THE RESULT.  IT IS THE FIRST INANIMATE STILL REPRESENTATION OF THE NATIVITY.  ITS SIMPLICITY COPIES THE BASIC FIGURES OF ST. FRANCIS’s LIVE NATIVITY. This ANCIENT HISTORICAL CONNECTION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW BECAUSE THIS YEAR 2023 THE VATICAN CHOSE to REPLICATE ST. FRANCIS’s LIVE Nativity FOR THE NATIVITY IN ST. Peter’s SQUARE!  It’s NOT LIVE but IT IS LIFE-SIZE AND RESEMBLES THE SIMPLICITY OF DISPLAYING ONLY BASIC FIGURES ESSENTIAL TO THE SCENE. SANDRA PANICI, aka THE ROMAN PILGRIM IN PERSON IN ROME

 GOOD MORNING FROM ROME AND  MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE ! Today is Christmas Eve, Sunday DECEMBER 24, 2023, 9:30 AM, and I posted a foto of the RELIQUARY I took recently at LA BASILICA DI SANTA MAGGIORE in ROME! THE ORIGINAL MANGER IS INSIDE THIS RELIQUARY.  Some say that Helena, Mother of Emperor Constantine I, brought it from the Holy Land to Ancient Rome in the 4th Century.  Another story says it was brought here piecemeal by ordinary people.  Or sent by St. Sophronius, Patriarch in Jerusalem, to Pope Theodore I in the 7th century!  Bottom line is it’s not in Bethlehem, the original Manger IS IN ROME!  No wonder this Church was first named St. Mary of the Manger! I WISH A HEARTFELT MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE TO ALL OF YOU WHO ENJOY MY PILGRIMAGE POSTS.   Sandra Panici, the Roman Pilgrim in Person in Rome

MY PILGRIMAGES ARE NOT  WALKING PILGRIMAGES.  I USE RELIABLE COURTEOUS PRIVATE TRANSPORT.  OR ROME CITY CABS WHERE NECESSARY.  I DON’T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON WALKING AND WAITING FOR CITY BUSES, MOST OF WHICH ARE LATE AND TOO CROWDED ANYWAY. MY PILGRIMAGES ARE INTENSE, COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH, AND REQUIRE THE BEST USE OF TIME TO GIVE YOU THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.  PRIVATE TRANSPORT IS BEST BECAUSE IT’S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO GET A TAXI IN ROME EVEN USING THE APPS.  WE COVER A LOT OF GROUND, EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO CLUSTER OUR ACTIVITIES SO AS NOT TO REPEAT AND DOUBLE BACK OVER ROUTES. My Transport Sources: NCC Vega, Cristiana Musumeci, +39 366 307 6401 text her on WhatsApp, www.nccvega.com, Rome transport service; Ivano, +39 338 240 6629,  and Marcello Bartoletta, +39 328 302 0069 text him on WhatsApp,  Enrico also on WhatsApp at +39 347 751 6536,  and Alessandro Mocci is on WhatsApp at +39 392 921 7140, all are from Expats Living in Rome;...

Cooking classes apply only to 3 day and 5 day plus Pilgrimages and are in accordance with desire. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I OFFER VERY INTENSE, VERY ACTIVE PILGRIMAGES.  WE DON’T SPEND OUR TIME SITTING AND WAITING.  INSTEAD OF SITTING AND WAITING FOR FOOD, WE’ll MAKE OUR OWN LUNCH OR SUPPER EACH DAY.  THAT MEANS WE DON’t WASTE TIME WALKING AROUND DOING FOOD TOURS, WE USE THE TIME TO MAKE FOOD! HERE ARE SOME OF THE ROMAN KITCHENS WE RELY ON FOR COOKING EXPERIENCES: https://riccardocookingclass.com/ https://www.holypizza.com/ @michela_homerestaurant_rome on Instagram, Michela Home Restaurant Rome is in Trastevere. https://www.checcoercarettiere.it/cooking-class/ This also in Trastevere. YOU’ll LEARN HOW TO MAKE ITALIAN STAPLES AND EAT IT TOO!  A FUN GOOD TIME WILL BE HAD BY ALL! The Roman Pilgrim in Person in Rome aka Sandra Panici, text me on WhatsApp at +39 338 744 7764.  Area code inside Italy is 0039, from the USA is 01139.  

Folk Dancing applies only to 3 day and 5 day plus Pilgrimages and is in accordance with desire. COME TO ROME AND DANCE THE FOLK DANCE OF ANCIENT ROME, the SALTARELLO!   There are VARIATIONS AND YOU CAN BE AS VIGOROUS OR AS RELAXED AS DESIRED!   https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/history-culture/10099-i-balli-tradizionali-italiani-il-saltarello-la-tarantella-e-la-taranta Any Pilgrimage you take with me will include instruction and participation in historical local Roman Folk Dance.  As you desire!  Cooking and dancing, eating and looking, if you’d like to experience how the Ancient Romans lived, come to Rome! A Vigorous Saltarello! https://youtu.be/wx4N6lOYZMU?si=BZMp2zYa0ZXd7JwA The Roman Pilgrim in Person in Rome aka Sandra Panici Text me at sandra.panici@hotmail.com or on WhatsApp at +39 338 744 7764.  Or 0039 for country code.  From the USA add an Exit Code, 01139.   Medieval Peasant Saltarello costume