HTT - Hill Towns Tours

It is not an easy task to describe in just a few words a city as magnificent and magical as Assisi. Without a doubt, this is one of the most visited and well known places in all of Italy, destination for numerous pilgrimages but also full of visitors of every kind who are attracted by the many majestic works of art.
As you climb up the road that rises from Santa Maria degli Angeli, the image of the city appears, resting on the slopes of Monte Subasio. The view of the city is immediately striking

due to the colourful houses built using the pietra rosa, meaning "pink stone", from the mountain, for the harmonious line formed by the rooftops, and the overall elegance of the urban development.
Dominating from up above is the solemn Rocca Maggiore, the ancient fortress of Assisi that was established before the arrival of the Lombards, and which had been beaten down and then rebuilt uncountable times. Assisi, as most of the region, was originally founded by the Umbrians. It then
passed under the dominion of the Romans where it began to develop and prosper.
Evidence of this period are seen in the Temple of Minerva, what is left of the Forum, the Roman walls, and the amphitheatre. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was inhabited first by the Goths and then by the Lombards, and later around the year 1000 finally became a free city-state. Saint Francis, the most widely known citizen of Assisi, was born around 1181, and it was
during a war with nearby Perugia in 1202 that Francis was taken and kept imprisoned for over a year. From 1206 onward, Francis chose to dedicate himself to Christ through his aid and service to the poor, living in the same conditions they did. In fact, in the piazza of Assisi, he publicly renounced all of the material possessions of his rich parents. In 1228, only 2 years
after his death, he was proclaimed saint by Pope Gregory IX. The following period in Assisi was marked by the turbulence due to the political instability in all of Italy during the Middle Ages. They went from Imperial rule to Papal rule, only to then be tied to various “Signorie” (Dominions). Then, in the 16th century to be precise, when Pope Paul III conquered Umbria, it was
united with Perugia and so Stato Pontificio (Vatican) was restored. In the 19th century,
together with the other cities of Umbria, Assisi became part of the newborn Italian state.
Assisi is protected by a long, well maintained city wall, and dominated by the Rocca Maggiore and Rocca Minore. Entry into the city is gained through eight different gates, all of notable artistic interest. The city's masterpiece is the Church of Saint Francis, which houses some of Giotto's best
known works. The complex of the basilica, which was recognized as a World Heritage Site, consists of two superimposed churches: the lower church (1228-1230), the upper church (1230-1253), and a crypt with the tomb of St. Francis. Construction of the Basilica began in 1228 with Pope Gregory IX and was completed in 1253 by Pope Innocent IV.

Artistic masters, including the best painters and architects of that period, were called in to work on the church and were paid using offerings that arrived from all over the world. In 1230 the corpse of St. Francis was transferred from the Church of San Giorgio (later called the Basilica of Santa Chiara) in order to be entombed in the new Basilica built in his honour. Assisi thus became an obligatory stop for all pilgrims on their way down to Rome. There are infinite artistic gems for any visitor. The Gothic Basilica of Santa Chiara, mentioned above, contains many precious frescoes. The austere church of San Pietro was built in a Romanesque Umbro style dating back to the 13th century. The Duomo is also from the 13th century, dedicated to its patron San Rufino, and it displays a facade richly decorated with sculptures and base reliefs. In the Piazza del Comune you will find the Palazzo dei Priori (1337), Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (1200) and the Temple of Minerva, built during the era of the Roman Empire, with its columns and Corinthian capitals still intact.
The convent of San Damiano is nearby, immersed in a mystic atmosphere, and also the imposing Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, built between 1569 and 1679 to protect the Chapel della Porziuncola where St. Francis took refuge after he renounced his family's wealth.
Without a doubt, one of the most celebrated events is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, held every October 3rd and 4th. There is also a Marcia delle Pace, or peace march, every two years in October. It begins in the city center of Perugia and the walk continues for about eight hours to reach Assisi. August is a month jam-packed with events such as the Festival of Santa Chiara and the Festival of San Rufino. The latter includes a Palio della Balestra, which is a crossbow competition between the various districts of the city, and a torchlight procession.

HTT - Hill Towns Tours HTT - Hill Towns Tours HTT - Hill Towns Tours