Assisi
Assisi
and its history date back to the Umbri, a people who are believed to
be the original inhabitants of Umbria. Although their history
is based on speculation, it appears that the Umbri were conquered by
the Etruscans in the 5th or 4th century B.C. To many, Assisi has
been made famous by its native son, Saint Francis, who was the
founder of the Franciscans and is also known as the patron saint of
animals and ecology. |
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The Basilica of
St. Francis, which includes the remains of St. Francis of Assisi,
and the Sacro Convento comprise Assisi's famous religious shrine.
See both the Upper and Lower Basilicas as both are interesting and
beautiful. If you make the stop, also see the Basilica of St.
Claire, which, for a time housed the body of St. Francis, and now is
dedicated to St. Claire who converted upon hearing St. Francis
preach. Assisi is an active pilgrimage town for Catholics, so
expect larger crowds here than you will find in many of Umbria's
towns.
The left photograph
below
shows the castle fortifications in Assisi called the Rocca
Maggiori (Major Fortress). The castle was built in the 12th
century and later altered to include the tower seen at the end
of the rampart. On the right, is one of a number of pleasant
street scenes that you will see in Assisi.
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From the Piazza del Comune in
Assisi you can see the Palazzo Capitano del Popolo (the clock tower on the left)
and the Temple of Minerva (the columned building). The Temple dates
from the 1st century BC.
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