The Russians flocked to the Riviera in its Belle Epoque heyday, and indeed resorts like San Remo (City of Flowers on the Italian Riviera) were a magnet from the mid-19th Century onwards to aristocratic European exiles such as Tsar Nicola of Russia who came for the balmy, mild winters.
Dotted along the coast, as a result, are some beautiful Russian Orthodox churches like this one in San Remo which is next door to the Casino. It was designed by Alexi Shchusev who later planned Lenin's mausoleum in Moscow. The church was built for the Russian community who followed Tsarina Maria to the resort in 1906. Now it houses a fine collection of Russian icons...
4 comments:
Beautiful, fascinating captures for the day, Catherine! I do love those blue, blue skies! Hope you have a great week!
I didn't know there was such an interest in the Riviera among Russian people.
The icons look a lot like ones I saw recently at a Greek Orthodox Church.
Interesting post!
Those ornate onion domes echo the plainly shingled wooden ones I saw in Alaska where the Russian influence is quite evident as well. No wonderful gilded icons there like you've shown here, but a few shops with the usual Russian trinkets that tourists clamour for. Love the fact that the church in San Remo is next door to the casino: Pray for wins or for forgiveness.
Thanks for your comments - much appreciated
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