The city of St Francis
It is impossible to think of one of Italy’s two patron saints without recalling his Umbrian birthplace for he is, of course, known as St. Francis of Assisi. In this UNESCO ‘World Heritage Site’ brown-robed monks and modern pilgrims make their way through its medieval streets to the jewel in its crown, the grand Basilica where Francis is buried. Yet, despite the fact that one cannot venture very far without passing a church door, there is more to the city than its spirituality.
This is a city of warm hospitality with flashes of colour and good fun, especially if one happens along during the Calendimaggio. Sitting high on the western slope of Mount Subasio and framed by green Umbrian hills and mountain forests, you cannot help but feel enriched by a visit.
Sacred spaces of Assisi
Sitting as it does on the ridge of apennines that form Italy's long backbone, the city has had its fair share of earthquakes (the latest was in 1997), but is quickly repaired (Basilica re-opened in 2 yrs). Assisi is a beautiful medieval town with Romanesque/Gothic churches and grand Basilica, the jewel in Assisi’s crown, the burial site of St. Francis, begun in 1228, 2 years after the saint’s death. In the following century upper and lower churches were decorated by the foremost artists of the day – Cimabue, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti (Lower) & Giotto (life of st. francis in Upper). The Basilica receives vast numbers of pilgrims throughout the year. The city’s two major Basilica are the only ones outside of Rome. The entire town is a UNESCO ‘World Heritage Site, thanks to its ‘continuity of a city-sanctuary’ .
Things to do in Assisi
Trace the steps of Saint Francis
- Basilica of San Francesco – Burial place
- Eremo delle Carceri
- Chiesa di San Damiano – where he heard God telling him to ‘rebuild the church’ and where he wrote the Canticle of the Creatures. – 1 mile SE from city center
- Basilicata di Santa Maria degli Angeli – houses the Porziuncola, tiny stone home of St. Francis and followers, where he founded the order and in which he died in or near Oct. 3 1226
- Basilica of St. Clare – Burial spot of St. Clare, friend of St. Francis and founder of the Poor Clares – pink and white striped facade.
- St Rufino Cathedral – Where Francis and Clare were baptized – Romanesque facade
- Climb to the fort Rocca Maggiore to take in the view
Follow Roman footsteps in Assisi
- Tempio di Minerva (1st C. temple) has become Santa Maria Sopra Minerva – one of Goethe’s 1st stops on his Italian journey
- Foro Romano