On Monday morning at around 7.30 a.m. the woman was caught on camera by appalled locals posing for pictures with just a red strip of material covering her front, in front of the cathedral doors, which were cast in 1067 in the-then Constantinople, and beneath a mosaic of St. Andrew, whose relics are said to be housed inside.
“That it happened at the church is what made the episode so shocking,” she told CNN.
“The Duomo is a place of worship and a place very close to the hearts of the Amalfitani. That specific backdrop touches the historic memory of the locals. The bronze doors hearken back to the days of the Republic of Amalfi. These doors open for processions, for weddings, for funerals — moments that make life.
“Yes, it’s beautiful, but Amalfi is so much more than a pretty backdrop for a photo on social media.”
One local woman who videoed the event can be heard calling the tourists “crazy.” “Naked at the church,” she says in disbelief.
The cathedral — which dates back to the ninth century — is dedicated to the apostle St. Andrew, with his relics said to be kept there since 1206. It was built during Amalfi’s heyday as a maritime superpower rivaling Genoa, Venice and Pisa. Today its narrow streets are overwhelmed by tourists.
The cathedral holds what are said to be the relics of St. Andrew.
Alex Tihonov/Adobe Stock
A representative of the Amalfi police told CNN that the trio were English: a male photographer, plus the model and assistant.
They added that the police had referred them to the public prosecutors office for “obscene acts in a public place.”
The archbishop of Amalfi-Cava has yet to comment. A spokesperson for the mayor of Amalfi did not respond to a request for comment from CNN.
Thayer said that Amalfi has been “busier than ever” this summer, and with the weather abnormally warm, the crowds keep coming.
“Episodes like these are good reminders to be respectful for the places we visit and the people who live there,” she added.
Source: www.cnn.com