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“The full name of the little church is Pieve di Sant'Andrea
a Cercina. It is in the community of Sesto Fiorentino, just outside
of Florence, Italy,” says June Carey. “To get there,
I drove through the tiny village of Serpiolle. The stone walls
close in on the street so that cars are expected to honk on the
blind corners before going into them. If you are lucky, there
is room for one small car. Once through the town, at a deserted
intersection was this church with its walled cemetery. Nearby,
I saw this woman gathering greens from the field for dinner that
night. She is my favorite part of the scene. I try to imagine
myself getting older and living the life that she must live there.
I would, however, probably be better at painting the scene than
living it.”
I returned another time and the place looked deserted. The
door was open and I went inside with my camera, thinking to grab
a few photos. There was a very heavy scent of white lilies and
in the dim light, across the barren interior courtyard I saw
a table, where the lilies were in a large vase. I snapped one
photo, and was ready to fire the next, when suddenly, from a
small doorway I didn't know existed, a nun appeared, speaking
rapidly and waving a bony finger at me. Although I had no idea
what she said, I knew she did not want me to take photos! So
much for my love affair with the inside of old churches, I guess
one should never assume a place is deserted in Italy.” |