Murder's Silent Take (An Italian Village Mystery Book 6) by Adriana Licio

Author:Adriana Licio [Licio, Adriana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The HomeTravellers Press
Published: 2024-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

20

The Funeral

The crew bus left everyone near Porta del Popolo, and there they walked through the monumental marble gate to reach one of Rome’s most celebrated squares. Piazza del Popolo, with its large expanse of cobbles, gave no respite from the scorching sun. Not even the Villa Borghese park on one side of the square offered the breeze and freshness Giò would have expected. The green of the celebrated pine trees seemed very feeble, as if they had simply endured too much heat throughout the summer.

Despite the overbearing conditions, Giò’s heart skipped a beat as she took in the square, surrounded by elegant white or cream buildings, the large fountains to the side. And beyond the 26-metre high obelisk in the centre, she could see the twin churches, masterpieces of architecture from the Baroque era.

Giò was surprised to see a rather big crowd outside the church on the left, Santa Maria in Montesanto or, more simply, the Artists’ Church. She must have misjudged Betta’s success as she had not expected to find hundreds of people attending her funeral. It was August and those who lived in Rome usually went away at this time of year, leaving the place to the tourists who did not mind the heat. In fact, they almost seemed to thrive on it as if it were an essential part of their Roman experience.

As crew members, Giò and her companions were allowed to enter the church; most of the folks would have to wait outside. The egg-shaped interior welcomed them, with its tall, elegant light-grey walls harmonising with the large domed roof that reflected the light from outside. It was a reminder to raise their eyes above earthly mundanity and look for spirituality in the celestial.

Only at a second glance would visitors notice the six chapels to the sides, each a triumph of coloured marble concealing its treasures – its classical paintings and decorative altars – until one moved further inside. At the head of the church, among four columns in rare green marble, Giò recognised an artwork in oil of the Madonna and Child held up by floating angels, a sparkling golden crown on the head of the Holy Mother and her Baby. It had been painted in the early 17th century by the first known female architect, Plautilla Bricci.

In minutes, the pews were filling up with people in smart dress. Very few had gone for black; most were wearing either sombre or brilliantly coloured clothing. Among the mourners, Giò recognised Betta’s brother, Luca D’Andrea, on the pew right in front of the altar, and a number of actors she had thus far only seen in the movies. But she felt all eyes were on her group. Maybe because they were the last ones to have spent time with the unfortunate actress.

A man dressed in a fresh-looking beige suit cut through the crowds, nodding curtly to most people who greeted him. He smiled at a few and shook hands with even fewer as he kept moving towards Giò’s group.

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