Midday: Assisi | rick-steves-italy-1

Sicut cervus -

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DAY 13 (MIDDAY)

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"When in Assisi, do as the..."

Where are we?

Considered by many to be one of

the most outstanding example of religious choral art of the Renaissance, "Sicut Cervus" was composed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

Andiamo a Orvieto

Approximately 80 miles from Siena is the Umbrian hill town of ASSISI made famous by St. Francis. This patron saint of animals and ecologists gave up a life of luxury to joyfully emulate Christ's teachings. Assisi is nestled on the side of a hill topped by an old castle, Rocca Maggiore. The Basilica of St. Francis overlooks the valley below where St. Francis lived, preached and died. Here in the valley we stopped briefly to see his original chapel housed inside the protective Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.

The site also contained his famous rose garden, humble room where he died and life-like sculpture holding a basket of contented doves. Looking closer we noticed the doves were REAL. Even this man-made image has an effect on animals!

Reboarding the bus, we wound our way to the hill top and the site where St. Francis requested to be buried in 1226 alongside the outcasts he served. No longer called the "Hill of the Damned," St. Francis is buried inside the huge, multi-leveled Basilica of St. Francis. Photos are not permitted in the interior, but there are many opportuniites to photograph the exterior and surrounding countryside.

After lunch and time to explore the many shops that line the streets leading to the Basilica, we were met by local guide, Marco. Along our walk which culminated at the Basilica, he spoke of Assisi history and pointed out Roman antiquities dating back to the first century B.C.

Enroute to the Basilica we pass several churches tied to the life of St. Francis. Buried in the church dedicated to her is friend and follower of St. Francis, St. Clare, who was the founder of the Order of the Poor Clares. The Church of Santo Stefano was constructed by stonemasons, without the guidance of an architect, and legend states that its bells miraculously rang the day St. Francis died.