The Sacred Nail of Colle di Val d'Elsa
The Duomo at Colle di Val d’Elsa has a holy relic, the Sacred Nail, which is supposedly one of the nails that held Jesus on the Cross. We were able to see the chapel where the nail is stored.
The nail is put on display on the second Sunday of September at the Festival of the Sacred Nail.
Symbology of the Pelican
On our way out of town, we stopped in the Chiesa di S. Marziale and saw the stained glass window with a pelican feeding its young. We saw this symbol many times, often in carvings. The pelican is sacrificing itself to feed its young, a metaphor for Christ’s sacrifice.
Abbadia a Isola, or Abbey Island
As we approach Monteriggioni, the Abbadia a Isola appears. In English, this is “Abbey Island”. The abbey gets its name from the protective moat that surrounded it, making appear to be an island. We were able to make out the remnants of the moat from the drone.
The highlight of the Abbadia a Isola was meeting another pilgrim who was staying at the Ostello. He didn’t speak English or Italian, but was a native French speaker. So, Laura was able to have a conversation.
The caretaker at the Ostello was sick, so this pilgrim volunteered to staff the Ostello in his absence. That was pretty gracious of him.
