A photo from today's walk in my paternal grandparents village of Zurrieq. I still remember the little house in one of the narrowest streets in the village. My grandparents' old house and adjacent buildings were demolished to be replaced by a "modern" two storey house which is way out of style with the village core. I remember with nostalgia the scent of the herbs as you came in into the internal courtyard and of course my grandparents waiting for us; nannu smoking his pipe under the pomegranate tree and nanna hurrying out of the kitchen with the usual Kinnie (a local non alcoholic drink). I loved that house. It offered so many adventures. I loved exploring the top floors and going up to the roof by a spiral stone staircase although I dreaded the times I had to collect eggs. Nanna was, I guess like so many others in her village, very self sufficient with chickens and rabbits all year round. Back to the niche. this is a plain enough photo: a straight shot of an old niche about 200m up the road from where my father was born.
This niche is more than 100 years old. https://culture.gov.mt/en/culturalheritage/NICPMI_Database/01298.pdf There are three things which made me share this photo:
1 When I got home I could not read the inscription on the plaque. At first I thought it was in latin than I realised that it was in Italian but it had gone through some very bad restoration and whoever painted over the inscription definitely could not read or write. I stand to be corrected but I believe the inscription should read: (SI) MONS PIETRO PACE PER DECRETO DEL 4 LUGLIO 1903 CONCEDE L'INDULGENZA 40 GIORNI A CHI RECIT(ERÁ) UNA SALVE REGINA INANZI A QUESTA IMMAGINE.
2 I almost missed the iron plate at the very bottom of the niche. It is in the form of a burning heart representing the love of Jesus.
3 While looking for and researching what might be written on the plaque I came across a database of all the statues and niches we have on the island.
There is something very special about grandparents' homes, isn't there? That's so sad that yours was torn down. There is a similar case with my mom's parents. While the house is not torn down, it was remodeled so drastically it looks nothing like what it used to and the part of the property that had the swimming pool was divided off and sold with another house built on it. This niche really has a fascinating history!
@milaniet sure was. It is interesting how a place or an object can bring back so many memories. I thank God that my family environment was such that it brought back many happy recollections.
@yaorenliu Thanks for your comment. Yes it would have made a great painting with warm tones. And the summer nights... ah those were special; just imagine a courtyard with flag stones still radiating the warmth of the sun and just one dim light coming from the sitting room. No tv, no tablets...
@olivetreeann Thanks for your comment Ann and it is good to have you back. While I was still teaching in a primary school I wrote a story (never published) for my students in which I described my adventures in that house. I now realise that my grandchildren are also going through a similar yet different experience when they "secretly" go upstairs and rummage through drawers which were once used by their mums.
@elza Yes, not only the houses but the attics! Both of my grandmothers had fascinating things in their attics- at least I thought they were! Maybe you should try to publish that story now.
April 23rd, 2021
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