Sunday 6th December 2015

Evening folks. It's just starting to get dark at the end of what's been a bright, crisp and autumnal-feeling afternoon in Ischia. The 6th December is a special day in the religious calendar when Saint Nicholas (San Nicola) is revered. The day is celebrated in different ways up and down Italy but in Ischia there's a lovely ceremony that takes place on one of the island's oldest churches, the Chiesa di San Nicola on Mount Epomeo. It's one of the few days of the year that the church is open to the public and after a mass, the statue of San Nicola is taken to the top of the mountain, accompanied by hymns, before being returned to its position in the church. There was a great crowd to witness it all as can be seen in today's photo. As for the weather, right now at 5pm it's dry and 14°C (58°F). Ciao :-)