Italy Day 5: Assisi & Perugia
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Our travels took us on a religious exploration today as we visited several Basilicas. The coach trip took us first across the River Tiber in the foggy, mystical, Umbrian land, to St. Mary of the Angels Basilica.
St. Mary of the Angels Basilica
This church is located down the hill from Assisi and was erected where St. Francis of Assisi died. There was a small pre-medieval church, or original church, inside of the massive outer church which was built around it. An English speaking priest was conducting mass and giving communion to about 10 people who fit inside this tiny church.
pre-medieval church within a church
The frescos/ paintings were ornate and stunning, as St. Francis (the patron Saint of Italy, the garden and animals) was honored here. St. Francis gave up the wealth of his father, a cloth merchant, to live in poverty and preach the word of God.
Cross inside St. Mary of the Angels Basilica
After this visit, we got in the coach and headed to the hilltop of Assisi. Before proceeding to the Basilica of St. Francis, we strolled down the Via San Francesco to St. Clare’s church. This was built of pink and gray striped- looking stones on the outside. Clare was a nun who was one of St. Francis’s original followers. St. Francis was christened here and we saw the baptismal front, and St. Clare’s body entombed in her church.
far off view of the hilltop of Assisi
St. Clare's Church and olive groves
alter in St. Clare's Church
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi was very unassuming on the outside, although it housed some of the most gorgeous 3-D fresco paintings we saw on our trip. The paintings were done in the late middle ages by Giotto, a famous Italian painter/architect from Florence, and depicted the story of Jesus.
There was no photography allowed in the Basilica of St. Francis, but Dave was able to sneak in a few of these incredible frescoes.
beauty in the village of Assisi
We had lunch at a small cafeteria style restaurant where I had lasagna and french fries (woo hoo!) for lunch. Then we were off to Perugia, the capitol of Umbria, for the evening. We had to take 3 escalators up from where our hotel was situated up to the higher village where there was lots of shopping, restaurants, piazza and a university too.
main street of Old Town Perugia
Our tour guide left us on our own to explore Perugia, where we found Bacci chocolates. These chocolate wrapped hazelnuts are packaged much like a fortune cookie, with a little message of wisdom inside. This idea originated when an Italian man, who was trying to communicate with his mistress (his wife’s friend) secretively. He tucked little messages away for her inside the desserts his wife was giving to her.
bacci chocolates with hidden message inside