Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
Cattedrale di San Cerbone – Massa Marittima, Tuscany
If it hadn’t been for a number of Manja’s posts from last year like this one and this other one here, I probably would have never heard of the town of Massa Marittima in southern Tuscany.
After seeing her posts however, I knew that if I ever made it to that part of the world, this ancient hilltop town was without question going to be on my must-see list.
One of the main attractions of the town is the Cathedral of Saint Cerbonius with its wraparound staircase and porous volcanic tuff stone construction, it is impossible to enter the town square and not be drawn towards this impressive 11th century structure.
I took a look around the bell tower side of the building where I found a few nice old doors hiding in some of the nooks and crannies.
The main door is open so what do you say we take a peek inside?
One of the beautiful things about this place is how all the windows and openings are oriented to allow for dramatic shadows. Beams of sunlight seem to deliberately shine onto specific spots bringing a feeling of glowing warmth to what would otherwise be a cold stone building.
Now let’s go back out and check out the other side of the exterior.
The animal figures at the top of the columns are said to ward off bad luck.
Here’s a ghost door that looks like it was filled in centuries ago.
And here are a few bonus doors from nearby buildings (now museums) including one made from the same volcanic stone.
This is just the tip of the Massa Marittima iceberg. Stay tuned because I’ll have at least a few more door posts from this amazing town in the weeks to come.
As always I thank you for stopping by 🙂
Want to join in on the fun and share your own Thursday Doors post with other door lovers? Then please add the link to your Thursday Doors post in the comments section below.
Don’t forget that if you share your blog posts on social media, use the #ThursdayDoors hashtag to help others find you, and please do take a few minutes to visit some of the Thursday Door posts shared by others.
Pingback: Thursday Doors – April 18, 2019 | Norm 2.0
I can absolutely see how you would be drawn to that stunning cathedral!! The outside is gorgeous so I wouldn’t have expected any less of the inside and it did not disappoint!
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nice doors and beautiful church. Love the inside.
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Really lovely cathedral. We’ve been to various places in Tuscany and have never managed to see Massa Marittima. I think it’s going on the list of must see places. The cathedral seems to have those beautiful clean lines embellished with a few architectural flourishes like that stunning round stained glass window. The play on light also makes fascinating images. A little late this week, but here is my contribution: https://americanfoodieabroad.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/doors-of-arkadi-ii/
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Thank you Debi. Yes I’d put Massa Maritimma on any must-see list for Tuscany. So much to see in that region and only so much time… 🙂
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I really can’t thank you enough for sharing your beautiful photos of these awesome places. That is one heck of a town square! And that window! Swoooon!
The Mister actually stopped today to let me catch a ghost door — I just showed him yours. He finds yours far more impressive! 🙂
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Thanks Joey. You found a ghost door!? Now I’m curious. I hope you’ll have a chance to share it soon 🙂
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Wow, great door finds and great photography, Norm! I hope to get back to Tuscany someday; we only had time for a 1-day bus tour of a few great cities or towns in Tuscany and I remember that visit well!
Here’s a link to my post this week: https://undiscoverdimagesamongstus2.wordpress.com/2019/03/29/filoli-house/
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Thanks Gordon. Tuscany is such a big region and there’s so much to see. If we ever go back to Italy I will want to spend even more time in Tuscany.
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What a great batch of photos! Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you 🙂
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Here is my submission: https://chava61.wordpress.com/2019/03/29/thursday-doors-march-28-2019/
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Thank you 🙂
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Magnificent and classic.
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Thank you Sherry 🙂
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Spectacular views of the interior, Norm!
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Thank you 🙂
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Wow! Just WOW!
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Thanks 🙂
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You are welcome, Norm. 🙂
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That stone Texture!! Now I know why I chose a travertine tile for my kitchen backsplash. It’s stunning in these buildings! Love the doors too of course 🙂 Linking up once again https://katytrailcreations.com/2019/03/28/opening-day-19-thursdaydoors/
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Thanks. It’s a porous and seemingly brittle stone. I’m sure there was a steep learning curve when they initially began building with it.
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Nice collection, Norm.
Here’s my contribution for this week: https://notetotraveler.com/2019/03/28/filoli-gardens-doors/
Donna
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Thank you Donna 🙂
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Thank you for thinking and capturing all the details of these insanely beautiful buildings! No wonder people of all beliefs are drawn to visit them! What I love, is what I studied in art history for my art teaching,are the system of pillars carrying the massive roofs.the color of the stone they used is the right one, since in the beginning centuries they were not heated. People come for several reasons to Tuscany – you came for what’s in this post, I went to paint in the envied kind of light of this area for painters.
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You are absolutely right. There are so many reasons to appreciate and be drawn to these places. Now if only I had the time (and the money) to explore more of them 😉
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Same problem here:) More money than time though.
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I like the ghost door. It makes me wonder… why? The colors of this region are soothing to me. Very relaxed.
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Thanks Ally. If you like the colors then all I will say is: stay tuned…LOTS more of this to come in the next few posts.
And I do agree it is very soothing 🙂
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More from Savannah, http://the59club.blog/2019/03/28/transom-window/
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I like that octagonal tower. Looks like it is made of bricks, so a later addition perhaps. Renaissance?
I’m not sure whether my pingback worked, so here’s my entry https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/country-roads/
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I’m not sure on the exact period but there were a few additional constructions done to the place over the centuries so you may very well be correct.
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Great doors, Norm. Great architecture!
I’ve gone colourful more than cultural this week: https://travelwithintent.com/2019/03/28/doors-rainbow-colours/
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Thank you Debbie 🙂
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I suffer too much when I see your stunning pictures of Italy. Doors or no doors I simply have to get back there. I’ve not been to Massa Marritima before, but will have to change that now. Love the picture of the church ornament looking up towards the vaulted ceiling.
Rather more mundane Bristol doors at: https://scooj.org/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-66/
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Thank you my friend. This whole region of south western Tuscany was an amazing discovery for us – all because of blogging.
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That is the magic of it all.
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https://drkottaway.com/2019/03/28/ferry-door/
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Don’t you just love the colors of Italy? The light makes everything special! My favorite door photo was the angled church steps with the door in the background……..
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Oops I forgot my link! https://thecadyluckleedy.com/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-corfu-greece/
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Yes indeed, the light, the colors, the architecture and the history all make Italy a wonderful place to explore with camera in hand 🙂
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Nice photos and looking closely at them I can see how this style of architecture influenced churches here built in the 1800’s with the painted blue ceiling and marble pillars thanks for tour
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Thank you Alice. So many of these great architectural elements are worth repeating and re-using that it’s not surprising to see them in buildings that are hundreds years younger 🙂
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That vaulted blue ceiling is–dare I say it?–heavenly! My doors are only my tax peeps’, and the ceiling is only tin. http://marianallen.com/2019/03/rodefer-moss-thursdaydoors/
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Thanks Marian. The echoes inside that big relatively empty space were mesmerizing. The sound of each footstep just seemed to bounce around in there.
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Oh wow Norm, this is a beautiful series. Thanks for sharing with the explanations.
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Thank you!
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These are phenomenal photos, Norm! I can feel the history just looking at them. I’ve got an interesting door to share today; it’s 14 feet tall and guarded by a furry monster: https://wp.me/p4doQv-1XT Thanks as always, Norm! Cher xo
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Thanks Cher. This old town was something special to visit.
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It sure does look special, Norm! Cher xo
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I look at those broad stairs and say to myself, “I know why.” Sure, they are aesthetic and yes, they provide access from any approach but then anyone who attends church with family and friends knows what they do after services let out. You gather on the steps and sidewalk for at least half an hour to visit and gossip before planning on where you are going to get together for the noon meal.
In other words, the steps are just as social as they are architectural.
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That’s a good observation about the stairs. I can almost see people congregating on them before and after Mass.
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Beautiful photos, Norm. What a well preserved old building, inside and out. Looking forward to more of the same next week.
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Forgot to add my link in the comment.
https://jeanreinhardt.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-derry-city-by-night/
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Thank you Jean. I’ve got so many more to show 🙂
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Here’s mine for this Thursday: Bardstown, Kentucky, which has buildings that date to the Revolutionary War.
https://blog.jimgrey.net/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-bardstown-kentucky/
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This is a case where the doors play a supporting role to the building. That stone is so interesting. It has a textured look that reminds me of cork.
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It does have the look of cork. It’s so porous though, that it would never last the freeze/thaw cycles of our Canadian climate 😀
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Can you imagine?! That would be a disaster!
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Holy cow! I’m apparently late to the party today and it’s only a bit past 7 am!! Ah, well. I like the doors, but the stone building is what’s really impressive to me. I agree with Dan that the animals to ward off bad luck are interesting when you’re building a church to God, but perhaps they were to appeal to those not quite so certain about or new to Christianity. At any rate, quite a find in all aspects, Norm.
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-baja-gates-and-doors/
janet
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Thank you Janet 🙂
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Italy has so many beautiful churches…and doors! Here are my doors for this week: https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/dalmatian-doors/
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Thank you. Yes, just from the places I have seen there Italy is an incredible source for doors 🙂
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It’s amazing how much travel inspiration we find from other bloggers.
https://junkboattravels.blogspot.com/2019/03/thursday-doors_28.html
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This is the top reason why I love blogging so much. I have met so many great people and learned so much. It is truly a gift to be able to do this 🙂
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Italy certainly knows how to do architecture, doors, and hardware. Massive and impressive. 🙂 Here’s my link to Socastee doors this week: https://newenglandgardenandthread.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-120/
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I haven’t been to France yet and I hope to fix that soon, but I will say that when it comes to doors Italy is gonna be hard to beat 😉
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Beautiful as always Norm. Here is mine for this week. https://travel-with-tech.blog/2019/03/28/doors-in-the-philippines-march-28-2019/
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Thank you 🙂
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Wonderful Italian church architecture. I really like the porous volcanic stone. Maybe it is a maritime cathedral because the rock would make it would float 😉
My offering is doorless, because I am working in a doorless room at present.
https://drprunesquallor279704606.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-wildlife-police-officer-medicals/
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Thanks Ian 🙂
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The details on these are amazing!
https://wp.me/p2xr3y-6Bz
Pat
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They are indeed. Thanks Pat 🙂
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What an incredible place to visit. I could feel the history of the place as I was looking at the photos.
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Oh Colline it was an incredible afternoon. We were so lucky to have the chance to visit this place 🙂
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There is so much to love in this post, Norm! I am trying to imagine the amount of work involved in building this magnificent building. I do find it a bit odd that they would work so hard to build a church, and add animals to ward off bad luck, I mean, you’d think that would be part of the deal with the church. Still, they are amazing to look at.
My contribution is located here: https://nofacilities.com/2019/03/28/concord-doors-thursdaydoors/
Thanks again for hosting.
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Thanks Dan. Considering how different construction techniques and equipment were back then, I always find places like this amazing.
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Here it is, my Piran in Slovenia and some of its doors, including a sea door. It’s so good to see the light in your photos and know that it’s from around here. 🙂
https://manjameximoving.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/thursday-doors-28-3-19-piran/
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Terrific collection.
https://sydney-city.blogspot.com/2019/03/sandringham-georges-river-16ft-sailing.html
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Jim, I’m going to leave my comment here as I hate the captchas on Blogspot. It always takes about three times before it accepts my answers and the photos are so small it makes identification very difficult. That’s quite a modern building. The blue sky looks so inviting.
janet
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Thank you Jim 🙂
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Good morning Norm (well, it’s morning here anyway). Long time since last posting but here’s one today. https://cornishbearsphotos.com/2019/03/28/some-doors-other-things/
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Glad to see you back. Feel free to join in any time you’ve got doors you want to share 🙂
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Wow, I gotto look at this some more later on in the day – thanks for hosting! Mine is here:)
https://wp.me/p9EWyp-Fn
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Ahh, how beautiful, your interior shots! I haven’t been inside yet but the next time I’ll go for sure! Also you kindly link to two posts on my previous blog but for some reason pingbacks didn’t work this time. Thank you in every case! All in all, a great post. I’m glad you chose this place to visit together. Truly a marvel. My post coming shortly.
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And I’m so glad you took us there. Thank you my friend 🙂
Yes next time you go, I’d suggest you take an extra 20 minutes and explore the interior too.
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