The Crying Madonna of Malta
In the centre of island of Malta lies a small neighbourhood known as ‘Tal-Mirakli’. (‘The Miraculous [Neighbourhood]’). It nestles between the three residential villages of Attard, Balzan and Lija. There you
The Statue of a Bearded Lady
Once you leave the famous Prague castle complex, most people tend to saunter down the hill back to the city centre. This is a shame as the sheer quantity of
St Valentine’s Shoulder in Prague
I’ve written about saintly relics before. They exist all over the world because there is a belief that proximity to even part of a saint means ‘something’ can rub off.
The Tongue of St John (Of Nepomuk)
I’ve written before about the Czech saint St John of Nepomuk – but I hadn’t visited the main church dedicated to him, right in the middle of Czechia.
Discovering Nazareth in Portugal
Along the Atlantic coast, in Portugal’s central region, lies the town of Nazaré – literally, Nazareth. It sprawls over a clifftop and a beach below the cliffs and is a
The Legend of St John’s 5 Stars
Uniquely amongst Catholic saints, the statue of the Bohemian St John of Nepomuk has 5 stars on its halo. Catholic tradition usually portrays the Virgin Mary with stars (and all others with a simple halo), so what's the story here?
Revealing the House of the Black Madonna
Behind the hustle and bustle of Prague’s shopping district, just off the Fruit Market (Ovocny Trh), the House of the Black Madonna stands watch at the junction of the market