Italian Traces in Munich – Part 2
Italian Traces in Munich – Part 2
Continuing our Walk Through Munich with some Southern Flair!
Tour 2: Lucky Figures and a Protective Saint in Munich’s Oldest Parish Church
The Statue of Juliet
For heartbreak and marriage crises, it is said that she can help: the statue of Juliet Capulet at the Old Town Hall. Every day, locals visit her, placing single flowers or sometimes whole bouquets in her arms as they search for true love. The statue is a gift from Verona, Munich's partner city, dating back to 1974. If you visit Juliet, you’ll immediately notice her highly polished chest. Many male visitors still believe that touching it is a tradition and somehow expected, but they are, of course, completely mistaken! For those who don’t believe us: Since last year, you can find the Augmented Reality artwork #JulietToo by Tamiko Thiel at the statue’s base. Scan the QR code with your phone and see for yourself!
The Sitting Wild Boar
Munich has its own version of the Porcellino, much like the one in Florence: Our wild boar guards the entrance to the Hunting and Fishing Museum, located in the former Augustiner Church. No one passes by him without lovingly touching his snout, as it is believed to bring good luck!
Saint Munditia
Some visitors to Munich are quite startled when they see it: In St. Peter's Church, you are greeted by a full-body relic, the complete skeleton of a woman in a glass coffin. This is the mortal remains of a Roman woman, Saint Munditia Protogenia, who was possibly beheaded during the Christian persecutions of the 4th century. The early Christian martyr was later revered as a catacomb saint and eventually made her way to Munich in the 17th century. Saint Munditia is the patron saint of single women, and every year on November 17th, a Mass and candlelit procession are held in St. Peter's Church to celebrate the Munditia Festival. To answer a question we often get during our tours: Yes, these are indeed her real bones—and not a replica! If you'd like to learn more about St. Peter's Church and Saint Munditia, join us for one of our city tours!
This was the second part of our Italian Traces in Munich series.
For a more detailed article, check out the full post by our friends at Sono Italia – here’s the link to the article!