Travel Eye on Assisi (Italy)

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Overview :

Assisi is one of Italy's prime tourist attractions; a simple and peaceful town with a rich religious heritage. It rejoices in many good, small hotels, excellent restaurants and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

The picturesque hill town of Assisi, to the east of Perugia, is famous as the birthplace of St Francis, a 12th-century monk who founded the Franciscan order devoted to achieving an 'abundance of the divine' through the practise of ascetism, poverty and chastity. Tourists and pilgrims flock to the bustling town for inspiration and worship, and a multitude of conferences, festivals and other religious activities are dedicated to this aim. Approaching the town is a visual spectacle of shimmering white marble buildings perched halfway up Mount Subasio. The town is set against the backdrop of the towering 14th-century hill fortress of the Rocca Maggiore, a landmark with which to orientate oneself from inside the city's medieval ramparts. The most loved and visited church in Italy is the 13th-century Basilica di San Francesco containing frescoes by Giotto commemorating the life of St Francis. Other notable works include paintings by Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini's frescoes based on the life of St Martin. St Francis' tomb rests below the lower church.

Locality:

The town of Assisi is located at the centre of the Italian peninsula in Umbria Region, 27 km southeast of Perugia and 203 km north of Rome. It is easy to reach and it is well linked by highway roads.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Assisi is a good town for wandering and exploring. Its narrow and steep lanes are picturesque and conceal plenty of surprises: a hidden restaurant, a faded fresco, a stunning view. Occasional olive groves are dotted among the stairways and rooftops, where shy cats creep out of sight of passers-by. After the earthquake it suffered in 1997, Assisi has been carefully rebuilt and restored; the town has a well-kept and well-off feel to it. There are still repairs being carried out, and work on some of Assisi's frescoes will go on for years, but most of the buildings, streets and monuments are restored and open for business.

You don't have to be a pilgrim to appreciate Assisi, but it helps if you have some interest in churches. For hundreds of years Assisi has been dominated by the unpretentious figure of St. Francis, whose followers filled the little town with churches, monasteries and shrines. Everywhere you look in Assisi, you'll find another fine church, mostly built in the pretty pink stone which defines the town's appearance, and mostly containing fine artworks and a few Franciscan relics. The grandest of these, of course, is the Basilica di San Francesco , the important double-decker church built to honour the humble saint, who lies in the crypt. The lower level is the older, and the more atmospheric, with stained glass windows, and frescoes attributed to Giotto, Cimabue and Simone Martini. The upper church was damaged more severely by the earthquake, but it's bright and airy and its colourful frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue and others can still be admired.

Popular sights include::

• The Basilica of St. Francis :
• The church was built in 1228 and it is a very imposing building. It consists of 2 overlapped churches. The lower church hosts the sarcophagus of the Saint and preserves many fresco cycles by Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, representing scenes of St. Francis' life and Passion of our Lord . They are rated as one of the most important samples of Italian art. The upper church, in gothic style, has the transept decorated with a fresco cycle of the "Crucifixion" by Cimabue. Notable is the famous fresco cycle of 28 events of St. Francis' life by Giotto. More frescoes on the walls are by artists of the Roman school.
  
• Piazza del Comune :
• In the center of the old town  is the typical medieval square, with a sixteenth-century fountain surrounded by 3 stone lions statues. On the southern side of the square there is the "Palazzo dei Priori", seat of the town hall, built in 1337. On the other side is the "palazzo del Capitano del Popolo" characterized by the high "Torre del Popolo". Next to it is the "Tempio di Minerva", an ancient building dating back to the 1st century B.C., which has been converted into a church.
  
• The Duomo :
• Imposing building with austere Romanesque frontal. Three richly carved portals and three nice rose windows. In the interior many works of art and an adjacent museum which hosts paintings and church ornaments. Outside the " Cripta" there are preserved various remains of ancient frescoes and a Roman sarcophagus carved in the third century A.D.
  
• Rocca Maggiore :
• On a rocky hilltop rises the medieval fortress, built in 1353 by the Cardinal Albornoz. Visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Assisi and the surrounding valley.
  
• The Basilica of Santa Chiara :
• In gothic style, it was built in 1257. Pink and white elegant façade with very nice rose window. Interiors with many important works of art.
  
  Outside the city walls:
  
• The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli :
• It is situated 5 km from Assisi, at the foot of the town. It is one of the most important sanctuaries of Italy and it stands in the place where St. Francis died. Imposing and elegant building, It hosts a wide collection of paintings and works of art by Andrea della Robbia. Under the dome is the " Cappella della Porziuncola" a simple oratory decorated by 3rd century frescoes. On the right side is the famous " Roseto" ( Rose garden) with thornless roses. The ancient refectory hosts the "Museo della Porziuncola" and has a large exhibit of vestments, liturgical objects and works of art.
  
  Remember that generally, churches and sanctuaries are open to visitors every day from 6.30/7.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00/14.30 until sunset. Exceptions: The Basilica of S. Francesco, which in the period of April - October remains open from dawn until sunset.  Access to the churches is reserved to visitors in decent clothing only.
  
• Museums in Assisi:
  Porziuncola Museum: Assisi (Perugia) - Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli
  Treasure and Collection F. M. Perkins Museum Assisi (Perugia) - Basilica di S. Francesco.
  Municipal Art Gallery Assisi (Perugia) - Palazzo Vallemani, via San Francesco
  Roman Forum and Archaeological Collection Assisi
  
• Events and Festivals in Assisi:
  Procession of the dead of Christ (Holy week)
  Antique fair and market (Apr - May)
  Calendimaggio (first Thursday of May) : Historic commemoration of medieval and renaissance lifestyle in period costumes. For the occasion, theatral spectacles, concerts, songs, dances, parades, exhibitions of bowmen, crossbowmen and flagwavers. During the feasts two ancient medieval factions clash in a relentless and absorbing competition. All the city shines with the streets decorated by torches, flags, stendards and floral decorations.
  Festival del Voto: (June )
  Festival of St. Rufino ans S. Chiara . (August)
  Festival of St. Francis (Oct 3 - 4 )