Assisi

The territory of the Assisi Tourism District, which also includes the towns of Bastia Umbra, Bettona and Cannara, occupies the northern parte of the Umbrian valley. Its naturale boundaries are Mount Subasio to the North East and a chian of the hills to the South East that separate the aerea from the Tiber Valley. It possesses various rivers (the Chiascio, a tributary of the Tiber, the Topino, the Ose, the Sambro), whose waters render the beautiful countryside very fertile. In the heart of Umbria, halfway up slopes of Mt. Subasio at 424metres above sea level, lies Assisi, a town extraordinarily rich in tourism attractions. The town faces South, with its terraces unfolding towards the enchanting Valle Umbra. A visit to Assisi is a must form international tourists for a variety of reasons: the personalities of Saint Francis (1182-1226) and Saint Claire (1193-1253) who continue to fascinate believers of all relmigions and non-believers alike for their message which is still relevant to modern life; the marvellous Basilicas dedicated to them, with their art works of the greatest painter of the time, in which the fresco of Giotto considered as the beginning of modern painting was born; the typical medieval urban structure of the citu; which in great part follows that of the original Roman settlement (with important remmants such as the “pronaos” (colonnade) of the Temple of Minerva); the green of the woods of the Mount Subasio and of the surrounding countryside, which reach up to us ancient walls, its fortunate position on a hillside, from which in one can embrace the entire Umbrian valley. Although Umbran in origin, Assisi was influenced byt the nearby Etruscan settlements. Under the name Asisium, it became a flourishing Roman municipality. At the beginning of the 3 rd century A.D., the martyr Rufino, the first bishop of Assisi, introduced by Christian faith. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Assisi was totally destroyed by Totila and his Goths (545 A.D.), later occupied by the Byzantines andconquered by the Lombards. Ruled for a considerable period by the Duchy of Spoleto, it flourished again during the 11 th and 12 th centuries, with the first experiments as an independent city state, but soon found itself involved in various wars. Defeated by Barbarossa, it was here that Federico II was educated. St. Francis and St. Claire were born during this period (the former in 1181 or 1182, the latter in 1193 or 1194). Besides imperial and papal domination, Assisi was repeatelly became a victim of violence originating in Perugia. The Viscontis, the Montefeltros, the condottiere Braccio Fortebraccio, and the Sforzas all attached the city. It was also torn by feuds between the Upper and Lower parts of the town (Parte de Sopra and Parte de Sotto). From the 16 th century until 1860, except for the brief Napoleonic period, it was part of the Papal State.

Churches and monuments

The Basilica of Saint Francio

The basilica complex is composed of two churches built one above the other, the lower one dating from 1228-1230 and upper one from 1230-1253 and a crypt dug in 1818 which houses the Saint's tomb. The Lower Basilica was decorated by the greatest painters of the 13 th and 14 th centuries: Cimabue, Giotto, the Lorenzetti brothers and Simone Martini. The stained glass windows are especially beautiful. The Upper Basilica is adorned by Giotto's frescos, illustrating the life of Saint Francis. There are also works by Cimabue, Cavallini and Torriti. The monastery houses a remarkable “Treasury” composed of rare illuminated manuscripts and the Perkins collection.

Piazza del Comune

The Roman Temple of Minerva (dating from the 1st century B.C.), the 13 th century Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, the Torre del Popolo, completed in 1305, and the Palazzo dei Priori (14th century), now house of the major.  

The Roman Forum

It's located below piazza del Comune and encompasses the original Roman paving and the base of the temple of Mineva.  

Chiesa Nuova

It was built in 1615 on the remains of a building believed to be the house of St. Francis' family. St. Francis was supposedly born the nearby Oratorio di San Francesco Piccolino.

The Basilica of St. Claire

It's and example pf italian Gothic architecture. It was constructed between 1257-1265 and contains precious paintings dating from the 12 th – 14 th centuries and the famous Crucifix venerated by St. Francis at San Damiano. The body of St. Claire is preserved in the crypt.

Cathedral of St. Rufino

The impressive Romanesque façade dating from 1140 is adorned with three rose-windows and symbolic sculptures. The interior was altered in the 16 th century, but there is still the baptismal font where St. Francis and St. Claire were baptized. The Cappella del Sacramento, the wooden choir, the Roman cistern, the crypt and the museum are points of interest.

Santa Maria degli Angeli

This suburb of Assisi is about 5 kms, away and boasts an imposing basilica constructed between 1569 and 1679 and crowed by the magnificent dome designed by Alessi. It encloses the Porziuncola (the nucleus of the first Franciscan monastery and the place where St. Claire received the Franciscan cowl from St. Francis in 1211) and the Cappella del Transito (where St. Francis died on 3 rd October 1226) painting by the Spagna. To the side of the basilica is the Chapel of the Roses with frescos by Tiberio d'Assisi. The museum annex contains works by the Maestro di San Francesco, Giunta Pisano and others.

San Damiano

It's a Franciscan strine about 1, 5 km from Assisi, built on the spot where St. Francis heard the voice of Christ and where he wrote the Canticle of the Creatures. The convent founded by St. Claire is still intact.

The Hermitage (Eremo delle Carceri)

It's an oasis of peace and tranquillità in the midst of the woods of Mt. Subasio (4, 5 kms. from Assisi).

The Sanctuary of Rivotorto

(4, 5 kms. from Assisi) Here the “hovel of St. Francis” is preserved in memory of the fisrt Franciscan community.