Tempio Civico della Beata Vergine Incoronata

History, history, history.  We visited Lodi, a city near Milan, in order to see the Tempio Civico della Beata Vergine Incoronata.  It is more than 500 years old, but the original site was a brothel, even older.  In fact, the city itself is nearly 1000 years old.  Even more interesting, this was one of the seats of the inquisition where Jews were tried for their faith.

Sometimes people wonder why I spend time in these pagan places.  The answer is history.  When you witness the art and architecture, when you feel what it’s like to stand in the midst of all this, then you begin to understand the appeal–and the threat.  Every idea has a history.  Sometimes investigating the history helps you see how the same idea morphs into the present.  Notice, if you will, how many different “religious” themes are present in this temple (to whom?).  Can you identify biblical stories and ideas transformed into something else?  Oh, and by the way, every square inch of this interior was covered with something elaborate.