Rose – Haiku 2025 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
Santa Maria del Carmine Church, Pavia Italy. Licensed Image
credit: © Ellesi | Dreamstime

carrying the load

bracing the builder’s cornerstone

a facade and rose

*

Its opulent facade includes Carrara marble, terracotta brick, as well as the ornately arranged mosaics in marble and Pietra Gessina (black stone) at the base of the wall. Santa Maria del Carmine Church, Pavia Italy is considered a premier example of the region’s Lombard Gothic architecture.

Although Santa Maria del Carmine Church, Pavia was completed in 1461, the featured door (photo above) is considerably more ‘recent’ — the original facade circa 1480 having been remodeled in the 19th century as part of the west facade’s meticulous restoration by architect Giuseppe Marchesi.

The central portal’s pointed arch tympanum above the door reflects a stone-sculptured illustration of The Annunciation (the appearance of Angel Gabriel to Mary, Mother of Jesus according to Luke 1: 26-28).

Trivia #1:

The most talked-about feature of the facade is the lavish terra cotta design in the rose window situated on the second story above the featured door.

Tera Cotta Rose window, Santa Maria del Carmine, Pavia Italy. Licensed Image credit: © Ellesi | Dreamstime

Kindly Note: The six vertical columns (pilasters) surmounted by spires on the west facade, although seemingly decorative, are the key support braces of the five (hidden) internal vertical compartments carrying the facade’s weight/mass.

Trivia #2:

Santa Maria del Carmine Church, Pavia, Italy’s cloister now houses the Torquato Taramelli Scientific High School. The cloister’s courtyard’s most unique feature is a Cedar of Lebanon tree (image below).

Additional facts:

The city of Pavia is a stop along the ancient pilgrim route Via Francigena (from Canterbury to Rome and from Rome to various pilgrimage cities including The Holy Land – Jerusalem).

One of the City of Pavia’s sister/twin cities is Bethlehem, Palestine.

Albert Einstein visited and lived with his parents in Pavia, Italy from the spring of 1895-1896.

Cedar of Lebanon Tree, former Cloister, Santa Maria del Carmine Church, Pavia Italy. Image credit: Di Enrico Brandstetter Giovanni | Wikipedia CC 4.0

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Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

50 thoughts on “Rose – Haiku 2025 #ThursdayDoors”

  7. Thanks for another lovely poem, inspired by an amazing bit of architecture, Suzette. I love the way you boil down aspects of the building and include them in your poetry. I also love learning about these places. Thanks again for sharing these with us. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you enjoyed the share, Dan. It is a pleasure to try to find some bits of interest or stories about these places and/or their doors.
      Thank you for your great support of ThursdayDoors.
      And a wonderful weekend to you.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I love rose windows and this one is indeed spectacular. I also like that the support structure is part of the design.
    And what a wonderful use for the cloister, which looks like the perfect place to study. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree, Kerfe. The rose window is adorned both outside and inside.. an extraordinary and rare architectural feature for sure.
      I, too, would love to study in so serene a place enclosed with, and by, such superb architecture.
      Thank you. Have a blessed day.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. There is so much beauty, thought, and craftsmanship to absorb in this remarkable cathedral door—especially the unique sculpture depicting one of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary: the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–28), traditionally meditated on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

    The presence of the Cedar Tree of Lebanon in the courtyard of the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine adds a profound layer of symbolism. Revered for millennia—used in the construction of ancient temples, palaces, seafaring vessels, even Solomon’s Temple—it speaks of deep ties to Bethlehem and Palestine. That the Carmelite order nurtured this sacred tree in their cloister feels especially poignant in our times. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

    Carrara marble, drawn from the mountains of one of my heart’s favourite places—Tuscany, though I’ve never been—has graced the hands of artists for over 2,000 years. And here, I believe, is my first encounter with Lombard Gothic architecture, with its characteristically thick walls, restrained sculpture, and the rhythmic beauty of its ornamental arches, the Lombard bands.

    The rose window above the featured door is simply breathtaking—perhaps the most talked-about feature for good reason. Somehow, it feels familiar, as though we’ve visited this place before in our Thursday Cathedral Door offerings. It rings a bell in the soul.

    Even the exterior braces—decorative yet strong—carry a quiet testimony to those who planned this restoration. Your haiku captures that spirit tenderly: beautiful, enduring, and quietly bearing the load.

    A splendid read and a deeply moving Thursday Cathedral Door offering.
    And what a thought—that Albert Einstein once blessed the city of Pavia with his presence.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I totally agree with you that the deep riches of the artistry and skillful crafting of this facade and church are nothing short of mind-bogglingly beautiful. Every iota of the church’s building is executed with great thought, and I feel a with much respect for the holy a reference to which you referred as well.
      Thank you for noting the many connections to The Holy Land of this storied church, one of many along the pilgrimage routes.
      **Regarding the Cedar of Labanon in the cloister. Your reflection is spot on… tending to the Cedar of Lebanon tree, planted there long long ago, was no small thing since this tree is not native to the region at all.
      And Wow!. Your sense that you have seen this rose window or style before is also spot on. This style is indicative of Milan cathedrals, and there was also a larger version of this style of rose window in the post on “The Librarians’ door.” I didn’t even make that connection. You are amazing…!
      I am happy that you enjoyed and found the richness of this church’s provenance in the Carmelites, the door’s tympanum story of The Anunciation perhaps tying many scriptures together along with this church’s role as a way-marker along the route to pilgrimages far and wide.
      Thank you for your generous insights, I truly appreciate your kindness.
      Happy Thursday, and may your evening be full of joy.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dear Poet,
        Thank you for your beautiful and concise summary/haiku —it truly captured the many layers of history embedded in the cathedral at Pavia. In doing so, you’ve opened the door to further exploration, especially with the intriguing trivia you included. I’m also grateful for the reference to the Librarian Door—how amazing it is that artists carried their decorative motifs and sculptural styles with them from place to place.

        There are indeed so many joyful mysteries woven into the Annunciation and the Nativity, and I found it deeply moving that the Carmelite Order brought the cedar tree to the province, nurturing it with such care within the convent. As you mentioned, so much thought and devotion went into the building of this cathedral.

        Pilgrimage wasn’t a tradition instilled in me growing up, though years later, the elders began embracing the idea of journeys to the Holy Land. Several travel agencies even sprang up to meet this growing interest. I’m not sure how common pilgrimage still is today, but if I were to embark on one, Santa Maria del Carmine would certainly be on my bucket list. It’s the kind of place I’d want to visit with someone who carries the same reverence in their heart.

        I’m so sorry for my delayed reply—it was truly a pleasure to read your words.
        Thursday has come and gone; it was a wonderful day, though very cold.
        As the weekend approaches, I wish you a blessed Friday and a peaceful, restorative weekend ahead.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. No apologies necessary. Timing is always as it needs to be. I was catching up on some much needed rest yesterday and was not online for much time.
        I am very happy that you found a fountain of ideas and connections in the share into this sacred space..some churches are greater and larger than the sum of their parts, due in some measure by the staggering attention to the The Exalted One most evident by its graceful resilience.

        Happy Friday. Warm wishes to you.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Oh that’s so lovely how you expressed timing. Indeed. I’m happy to read that 12 June was a day to afford you the time off and to catch up on some rest.
        Yes, thank you, I enjoyed sharing in this beautiful and sacred space that has become a vessel of memory, mystery, and meaning.

        Wishing you a happy Friday too.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Thank you so much, Poet.
        I’m preparing for my annual travel to my other home…lol,
        So I have quite a bit to do. It takes me ages to pack, lol. Yeah I travel on Sunday.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. A beautiful haiku, Suzette. It covers all the features of the cathedral which has spectacular rose windows. I liked the reference to Albert Einstein.

    Liked by 1 person

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