Basilica of San Francesco
Town center : narrow medieval streets
Assisi castle
Cathedral
Situation and importance
Assisi lies some 14km/9mi southeast of
Perugia in the medieval region of Umbria. The town, the ancient Umbrian
city of Asisium, is situated on artificial terraces on a westerly
outlier of the Monte Subasio.HistoryThe town, one of the
most important places of pilgrimage in Italy, owes its fame to St
Francis, born here in 1182, the son of a wealthy merchant, who after
spending his early years in a life of dissipation devoted himself to the
service of the poor and the sick, founded the Franciscan order and died
in 1226 in poverty and abstinence. His life, around which are many
legends, has inspired major works from famous artists (including
Giotto). With its well-preserved medieval streets and houses and its
treasures of art Assisi is one of Italy's great tourist sights.
San Pietro
South of the friary, beyond the Porta San Francesco, stands the church of San Pietro, with a fine doorway.
Piazza del Comune
Leaving the lower church we go uphill to the left into the Via San
Francesco and its continuation which lead to the Piazza del Comune, the
town's main square, built on the site of the Roman forum. Under the
Piazza del Comune, accessible via the Museo Civico (entrance on Via
Portica) lies the very interesting archeological site known as the Foro
Romano, dating from Roman times.
Temple of Minerva
The portico of the Temple of Minerva in Assisi, perhaps dating from
the Augustan period, was converted into the church of Santa Maria della
Minerva. Near the temple stands the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo
(13th century) with a tower.
Palazzo Comunale (Pinacoteca)
At the end of the square in Assisi is the Palazzo Comunale or Palazzo
dei Priori (Town Hall;14th century) with the municipal picture gallery
(Pinacoteca).
Address:
Piazza del Comune, I-06081 Assisi, Italy
Chiesa Nuovo
A little way south of the Palazzo Comunale, on a lower level, is the
Chiesa Nuova (1615), a small church on a centralized plan, erected, it
is said, on the site of St Francis's birthplace.
Cathedral of San Rufino
From the Piazza del Comune in Assisi the Via di San Rufino leads east
to the cathedral of San Rufino (12th-13th century), with a beautiful
facade.
Saint Clares Church
South of the cathedral, in the Piazza Santa Chiara, stands the Gothic
church of Santa Chiara (1265). Under the high altar is the open tomb of
St Clare (d. 1253), the enthusiastic disciple of St Francis who founded
the order of Clarissines or Poor Clares. In the Capella del Crocefisso
on the left side of the nave hangs the "Speaking Cross" from the convent
of San Damiano, in front of which St Francis is said to have received
the message from God to "go forth and rebuild my house".
Address:
Piazza Santa Chiara, I-06081 Assisi, Italy
Medieval Castle
From the Piazza di San Rufino the old Via Santa Maria delle Rose
ascends to the Rocca Maggiore, a castle high above the town, (re-built
by Cardinal Albornoz in 1365) in which the Emperor Frederick II
sometimes stayed during his youth. From here there are panoramic views.
Address:
Via delle Rocca, I-06081 Assisi, Italy
Convento di San Damiano
Southeast of the town center of Assisi is the little convent of San
Damiano (305m/1,007ft), founded by St Francis, of which St Clare was the
first abbess. On the small terrace, gay with flowers, in front of the
convent, St Francis is said to have composed his famous "Canticle of the
Sun". In addition to the church, the cloister with frescoes by Eusebio
di San Giorgio (1507), the convent and the convent gardens are open to
visitors.
Santa Maria degli Angeli, Italy
South of Assisi on the S.S. 75, is the small village of Santa Maria
degli Angeli (218m/719ft). The church of the same name, a massive domed
structure in Renaissance style, built between 1569-1630 over St Francis'
oratory (Porziuàncola) and the cell in which he died. The nave and
choir were re-erected after the earthquake in 1832 and the church was
provided with a new facade in 1925-28. To the east of the sacristy is a
small garden, in which it is said the roses have been thornless since an
act of penance by the saint. Adjacent is the Cappella delle Rose with
fine frescoes by Tiberio d'Assisi (1518), depicting scenes from the
saint's life.
Le Carceri
East of Assisi, charmingly situated in a small wood of holm-oaks above
a ravine between the bare rock faces of Monte Subasio, is the hermitage
of Le Carceri (791m/2,610ft), to which St Francis retired for his
devotional exercises. The monastery dates from the 14th century;
visitors are also shown the saint's rock-bed.From
the monastery it is an hour and a half's climb to the broad ridge of
Monte Subasio (1,290m/4,257ft; panoramic views). The drive over Monte
Subasio to Spoleto is also a fine experience.
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