Dear Travelers, we hope you are having a great New Year!
Today we would like to tell you about the city of Assisi. This is not simple task, but so enjoyable! Thinking of what we should choose to highlight, I found myself simply missing to be there: the light, the brilliance in the 
air, its cleanliness, the travel through the centuries, the deep peace, the soul, the Umbrian landscape… and also the good Umbrian gastronomy! I enjoy these every single time I go there, no matter if Assisi is so busy or quite empty, no matter if too sunny (is there a “too sunny”?) or too cloudy, if it was all scaffold due to the 1997 earthquakes, or if I run all the way uphill to get some quick pizza before running down… I always found myself very much in calm, and also quite moved in Assisi: you can just breath deep, look up and around, and smile as some inspiration arises.
air, its cleanliness, the travel through the centuries, the deep peace, the soul, the Umbrian landscape… and also the good Umbrian gastronomy! I enjoy these every single time I go there, no matter if Assisi is so busy or quite empty, no matter if too sunny (is there a “too sunny”?) or too cloudy, if it was all scaffold due to the 1997 earthquakes, or if I run all the way uphill to get some quick pizza before running down… I always found myself very much in calm, and also quite moved in Assisi: you can just breath deep, look up and around, and smile as some inspiration arises.
Assisi is not a big city: has some 30.000 inhabitants, but it looks small. It elegantly lies on a hill, with its two 14th century Forts (Rocca Maggiore and Rocca Minore – Large and Small Forts) perched upon the hilltop. You can visit the Rocca Maggiore Fort, and enjoy some wonderful views. The city has an extension of 71 sq.miles, and it all looks as a middle age village: from the old gates and along the main Via de San Francesco, Assisi neighbors have taken very good care of this medieval look and religious feeling.
Being the home of several saints, and Saint Francis place, most of the landmarks in Assisi are religious: For sure the Basilica of Saint Francis is the most important building for the history, art and the religion it comprises: started to be built right after Saint Francis death, it is a World Heritage Site, and it divides in the Lower Church, from the 13th century – you can visit the crypt of Saint Francis - with a wonderful blue ceiling and Giotto frescoes - and the Upper Church, with works by Cavallini. Again, look at the ceilings! Nowadays, an international religious study centre is run at the Sacred Convent.
The Basilica lies on the left corner of the city as you usually approach it, and from there you can just walk uphill along the Via San Francesco – or any of the parallel streets – to reach to the high main square. Around the city, scanty traces of the Roman times can be seen: remains of the city walls, and in the Piazza del Comune – main square – you can find the so-called Temple of Minerva: with six Corinthian columns of travertine, it was erected by Gaius and Titus Caesius in the 1st century B.C.. Now it is converted into a church.
The square is a nice meeting point where almost all streets converge. Around by the main streets you can do some nice shopping for small handicrafts and local specialties. You can also sit down and relax, knowing that beneath your feet lies the ancient Roman Forum of the Asisium Roman city, the place where people used to meet 2000 years ago keeps being the same! You can visit it form the Museo Civico, but some shopkeepers now open their basement for visitors.
Other highlights in Assisi are the Basilica di Santa Chiara, the cathedral of San Rufino (Duomo), and we of course cannot forget about the very typical pasta called strangozzi, and the famous black truffles from Norcia. As you can see, there are all kinds of inspiration in Assisi!
References and pictures are taken from:
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