Koln (and the Christmas Markets)

Koln, also spelled Cologne, is a large city in western Germany.  It is only a few hours from where we live in the Netherlands-3 hours if the traffic is light.  Koln, like many German cities, holds Christmas Markets in the weeks preceding Christmas.  We decided to visit the city and enjoy the festivities.

We first went to a small town outside of Koln called Siegburg.  The Christmas Market there was an old fashioned or medieval theme.

 The bread ovens with the wood fires

 The market with booths

 Goods for sale

 Everyone needs a fur skin for Christmas

 The merry-go-round

 Wood working-the old way

 The blacksmith with his furnace and anvil working the metal

 Mel even started her own produce company.

 Church on the main market square

We then drove to Koln.  Koln is the 4th largest city in Germany.  It is famous for the Cologne Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Cologne.  The University of Cologne is one of the oldest in all of Europe.  The town is located on both sides of the Rhine River.  This small town that was made into the major trade and production center by the Romans around 50 A.D.  It became the Roman provincial capital and was the most important Roman city north of the Alps.  

During the medieval period, Koln continued its prominence as a trade and a commercial city.  The huge Gothic cathedral was begun in 1248 and housed the relics of the Three Magi.  It was the home of the Archbishop was the largest cathedral in Northern Europe.  During WWII, the Cathedral was hit by 15 or 16 Allied bombs but was able to withstand the attacks.  Much of the city was destroyed during the war with about 95% of the population leaving the city.

 Koln Cathedral

 On the steps in front of the Cathedral

 Merry-go-round

 The Christmas Market at the Cathedral

 Koln Christmas Market

 One of the numerous booths at the market

 Nightfall at the Koln Cathedral Christmas Market

 Koln street cafe

 Headed to another Christmas Market in Koln

 Christmas Market

 Manger scene

 Puppets

 Wood carvings - the Three Magi

 Street Band

 Back to the Cathedral

 Notice Mel in front of the Cathedral.
Probably the only time the sun shone through the clouds!

 This building is huge

 The relics of the Three Magi

 Chapel of the Three Magi

 Street in front of the Cathedral

 Hotel decorated for Christmas

 Mel's new friend

 Street performer - when she moved it scared the boy.
He thought she was a statue.

 Christmas Market outside the Cathedral

 Again--truly amazing how large this building is.

 Bruce Lee has a hair salon here in Koln.  Who knew?

Malta--the Churches

The official religion in Malta is Catholicism.  We were told that in this small country, there are 365 churches-one for each day of the year.  The Catholic church exerts a huge influence on society here.  Divorce and abortion are still illegal.

St Paul is the most important saint in Malta.  He was reported to have been ship wrecked here in route to Rome.  Other important saints are St John the Baptist and St Agatha.

Caravaggio (artist) arrived in Malta in 1607.  He impressed the Grand Master of the Knights of St John and was knighted.  He painted The Beheading of John the Baptist which is in the St John's Co-Cathedral.

 St John's Co-Cathedral from the outside.

 St John's Co-Cathedral

 Tombstones of some of the knights that are buried in the Cathedral.  The entire floor of the church is a sea of multi-colored marble where 400 knights are buried beneath these tombstones.

 The Nave. This Cathedral is very ornate.  A beautiful building.

 One of the chapels of the Langues.  There were eight langues (languages--the national chapters) each with its own chapel.  The Langues vied with each other to create the most lavish chapel and all were richly decorated.  The artwork was outstanding.

 Tombstones in the floor

 Archway--notice the Maltese Cross

 The High Alter at the front of the cathedral.
It is made of gold, silver and bronze, encrusted with precious jewels.

Mosta Dome in the city of Mosta

 Mosta Dome--officially Our Lady of the Assumption.  This dome is the 3rd largest in Europe (or perhaps the 4th - Gozo Island claims to have built a bigger one.)

 Inside the Mosta Dome

 The Dome

 Standing outside of the Mosta Dome with St Jacob

 An interesting story about the Mosta Dome--during WWII, a German bomber dropped this bomb on the Mosta Dome.  The bomb did not explode but it did knock out the keystone from the center of the dome.  The dome should have collapsed but it stayed up.  It is considered a miracle.
Many years after the war, the bomber came to Mosta Dome seeking forgiveness
from the people of Mosta. They welcomed him with open arms!

 

 St Paul's Cathedral in the ancient capital of Mdina

 Another cathedral--they are numerous

 A church on the island of Gozo

 Another cathedral on the island of Gozo in Malta

 There are literally hundreds of churches

 

 Ta' Pinu Basilica--thousands of Maltese people travel here in hopes of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu
curing them of their ailments.

 Ta' Pinu Basilica

 Xewkija Cathedral on the island of Gozo. 
It is claimed by the Bozitans to have the 3rd largest dome in Europe--disputed by Mosta.
The church is big enough to hold three times Xewkija's population.