Twin Cities attorney Greg Pulles self-published a beautiful coffeetable-style book two years ago, “Sacred Places: Rediscovering the Churches of Rome.” He’ll soon have a companion to that 800-page work, a guidebook to help people take walks to visit those same churches.
On Wednesday, May 2, Pulles will give a free talk at the Mall of America on the history of the churches, the saints entombed at them, the mosaics and the art masterpieces they contain.
The talk is scheduled from 4 to 5 p.m. in the mall’s third-floor conference room. A social hour will follow.
Pulles has organized the soon-to-be-released “Guidebook to the Churches of Rome” around 11 geographically set walks. Along with his historic, religious and artistic commentary, the guidebook includes a short history of the City of Rome and even a favorite restaurant section.
There are also new easy to use maps for the 22 walks, he noted in a message to The Catholic Spirit.
“There is no experience like a trip to these churches,” Pulles wrote. “The history is breathtaking: to stand on the precise spot where one Pope blessed Constantine and another Pope crowned Charlemagne, to see the tombs of Peter and Paul, to be in the very first cathedral, the very first baptistery ever built!”
Art in the churches includes Renaissance and Baroque pieces from the likes of Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini, de Cambio and Cavallini, and can be see “inches from our noses!” Pulles pointed out.
