One Reporter's Futile Attempt to See the Shroud of Turin

Some advice for English-speaking Olympic-goers from the Associated Press (via Yahoo):

TURIN, Italy (AP) - A bit of advice for English-speaking visitors to this city who want to find the Shroud of Turin: Don't try asking locals, "Where can I find the Shroud of Turin?"

I gave it a shot during a recent trip. I speak Italian, but I wanted to see what would happen if I didn't. My quest began at a coffee bar on the portico-lined Piazza Castello, the heavily trafficked central square that will host some medal ceremonies and concerts during the Feb. 10-26 Winter Olympics.

***
Then I asked: "Can you tell me where I can find the Shroud?"

Him: "The what?"

Me: "The Shroud. The Holy Shroud. The Shroud of Turin."

Him: "I don't know what that is. Sorry."

And so it went.

***
The same scenario unfolded at a pizza joint on Via XX Settembre, the street that leads to the piazza where the Shroud is, and when I asked the nun at the counter of a shop selling religious items a half-block from Piazza San Giovanni.

The reason, of course, that Italians aren't familiar with the word "shroud" is that it's, well, English. Italians call it "La Santa Sindone."

The city set up English classes for police officers, taxi drivers and others who might regularly interact with the million-plus visitors expected during the Olympics. Some said they found it helpful, and for every pair of police officers I encountered, one spoke pretty impressive English.

Some, though, said the classes weren't all that useful.

***
Here's some more advice: Don't expect to actually see the Sindone.

***
When you enter the cathedral, to the left of the pews, there's a photographic replica of the Shroud, about two-thirds the size of the original. There are pamphlets in several languages, and helpful guides who aim their red laser pens at the copy as they describe it.

The Shroud itself? It's in its own chapel in the back left corner of the cathedral, enclosed in a box behind bulletproof glass. It was last brought out for public viewing in 2000, and is not scheduled to go on display again until 2025.

My Comments:
East Texan attending the Turin Olympics: "Hey, pardner, tell me sump'm. Where-o can me-o find-o the Shroud-o? Comprendo?"