A coin-operated “light box” in a church

Churches in Italy are like small museums themselves, as they contain many pieces of art. To preserve them from damage, they are not kept constantly under artificial light (luce). However, most of the time churches provide a “light box,” a paying system that lights the paintings or statues up for few minutes. This works with coins (monete).

Note how the niche on the left of the entrance is lightened up (and you can see a person standing in front of it) as opposed to the one on the right which is dark.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 7 “Churches and Museums” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. Buy our eBook on Amazon and leave us a review! If it’s good, you’ll make us happy, if it’s bad, you’ll make us improve. Thank you either way!}

There is a dress code to visit churches in Italy: it is forbidden to enter a church (chiesa) wearing shorts or skirts above the knee, sleeveless tops, and shirts that don’t cover your belly button. Some churches display the dress code sign on the door, others do not, and some even have a person at the door to turn away those who are not dressed properly, especially at the major churches, basilicas, and cathedrals. The worst-case scenario is that this could happen after you have been waiting in line for a long time and you realize it at the very end because the sign is displayed right by the entrance door. Just be aware.

Photo by Francesca Tosolini

So what if you’ve been out in the hot sun in your shorts all day, and you stumble upon a beautiful church you’d like to visit, but don’t have a change of clothes? Fear not: Usually, in the vicinity of these churches, you’ll find a store selling disposable (usa e getta) clothes. It sounds crazy, I know, but there really is such a thing. So don’t despair, but instead look around. This may be a hassle especially during the hottest months, but some Italian masterpieces may be worth a little sweat.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 7 “Churches and museums” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. To buy our eBook click here}

 

Photo by Francesca Tosolini

These Catholic churches offer services in English:

Florence: Duomo of Florence. Every Saturday (sabato) at 5pm. Piazza del Duomo.
Rome: Church of Santa Susanna (American National Church), Via XX Settembre 15.

Some non-Catholic churches also offer services in English:

Florence: St. James Church (American Episcopal), Via B. Rucellai 9.
Florence: St. Mark’s English Church (Anglican), Via Maggio 16.
Rome: All Saints Church (Anglican), Via del Babuino 153.
Rome: St. Andrew’s Church (Presbyterian), Via XX Settembre 7.
Rome: Rome Baptist Church, Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina 35.
Rome: Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church, Via del Banco di Santo Spirito 3.
Venice: St. George’s Church (Anglican), Dorsoduro, Campo San Vio 870.
Venice: Lutheran Evangelical Church, Cannaregio, Campo SS. Apostoli 4443.
Milan: Anglican Church of All Saints, Via Solferino 12.
Naples: Anglican Church, Via San Pasquale 18.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 7 “Churches and museums” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”}