Assisi

Our trip to Assisi was postponed from earlier in the semester because of snow and just really awful weather up in the mountains.  This weekend we were finally scheduled to go.  Most of us did not know much about Assisi other than it is where St. Francis was from as well as its where our Professor, Marco, lives.

The bus ride there takes about 1 1/2 hours, and winds through the mountains around lakes and rivers.  On the way there are many beautiful little hill towns, all fortified just like Orvieto.

We arrived and were met by Marco at the bus stop.  After a stop for a morning pastry, we headed up the hill towards San Francesco D'Assisi.

The basilica of San Francesco is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever been in.  It was begun in 1228 and finished in 1253.  It is the home of the Franciscan Order, and is run by the Franciscan Friars who occupy the monastery there.  The Church itself consists of three parts: The Crypt, which holds St. Francis' tomb, The Lower Church, and the Upper Church.  The Basilica was designed to be a procession from life to death and back to life.  You enter on the east into the Lower Church and proceed to the west where the Friary is.  This movement from east to west is the movement from life to death.  You then rise into the Upper Church and move back to the East, which moves you back into life.

Keeping with this movement, we entered into the lower church first.  The Lower Church is covered in beautiful frescos representing the life of Christ on one side and the life of St. Francis on the other.  Pictures are  strictly not allowed, but I snagged some postcards to show you. While Marco was describing the church I also did some sketching.

The Lower Church and Crypt have such an atmosphere to them.  It feels like a holy place.  With the chanting from the mass and the friars walking around in meditation, it is truly a place everyone should visit.

The crypt below was an experience in itself. I have never heard such a profound silence.  We all walked down the stairs without a word.  Some wandered around the back side of the tomb, while others took a seat in the pews for reflection and observation.  It is a very simple room.  The walls are not lit.  The only light comes from small cove lighting around the exterior which lights the ceiling.

Upstairs has a completely different atmosphere than its 2 counterparts, and I did not find it as awe inspiring nor was I overwhelmed.  Many of the frescos in the Upper Church were lost in the earthquake of 1997, and the Church was closed for 2 years after that for restoration.  The weather and humidity has also affected this church more than the others because it is above ground and the sun shines in through the windows.

After we finished our tour of the church we walked through the city towards the city center.  The city center has an old Roman temple, which has been converted into a Catholic Church, and a bell tower.  There is a fountain and a cute little restaurant as well.  From the city center we walked to the edge of town where Santa Chiara, Saint Claire, is located.  This is where we were supposed to meet at the end of the day for the bus.

We were then dismissed and we separated into groups.  Our group headed in search of food.  We found a little pizza place, and grabbed a piece (Vegetarian of course. It was Friday.)  From there we walked to the Underground, which houses the ruins of the original Roman town which is underneath the city center in front of the Temple.  After that we walked to San Rufino at the top of the hill.  We then walked in search of Gelato (It was afternoon after all). We then explored Santa Chiara and the tomb underneath.

It was a very relaxed day, and a very short day.  The group that was heading back to Orvieto (myself included) boarded the bus at about 5PM.

Our next trip is the North trip which will included Verona, Vicenza, and Venice.  From there Berta and I are going to Paris for Spring Break! Very Excited!

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