Traveling through the north of Italy, we felt at home, like native Italians. We made our way to Venice, taking in “The Floating City,” for a night. Walking through the labyrinthine streets of the city on a foggy, atmospheric night made us feel like we were in a different world, transported back to the old Italian merchant times when Venice was a major maritime power. The city, hidden behind her Venetian mask, held an air of mystery and intrigue that we were excited to explore.
The following day we met Angelo Palomba and joined in his business meeting in the town of Padua, where we met many friendly and fully heart centered people. In 1221 while St. Anthony was attending the general chapter of Franciscans in Assisi he met Saint Francis in person. Soon after he began what became a brilliant life of preaching. We could feel very familiar devotional vibration all over the town of Padua and specially around the Basilica of St. Anthony which stood magnificently tall and grand.
