A day with very good friends.
5.35 miles, partly cloudy, 62 degrees, 86% humidity.
Richard’s ReLive video is here: https://www.relive.com/view/vrqDXQALxLq
Daniele and his family had spent the night at Assisi so we had time together until afternoon when they had to return to Cesena.
First we headed off to the San Francisco Basilica. It has an upper church and a lower church, but on Sunday morning, we had only time for a short upper church visit before Mass. There are no pictures allowed inside.
Visitors are lined up outside the upper church. This is the Basilica decorated with Giotto frescoes.
We headed down to the lower Basilica that was still open.
The cloister outside the lower church.
Finishing our visit, we head back for lunch together.
We can never pass a street with the name of our children.
Lunch was fabulous, including dessert.
The ancient Temple of Minerva (1st c. BC) was converted into a Christian church (San Donato) in the Middle Ages.
The church has six Corinthian columns on plinths located on the steps made from local travertine.
Inside the church of San Donato. Monks divided the building into a church (lower) and living accommodations (above). In 1539 Pope Paul III ordered the full restoration of the Temple and changed the name to the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.
It is no longer a working church, but is part of the civic buildings of Assisi.
Time for one more church visit to Cattedrale di San Ruffino. It is the church where both Saint Francis and Saint Clare were baptized here, as was Emperor Frederick II.
Now it was very popular for a recently sainted boy, Carlos Acutis, who is from the Assisi area.
Although it is a rose window, the light is not visible inside the church. Symbols of the four evangelists surround the exterior window.
This is the third church to house the relics of Bishop Rufinus who was martyred in the third century.
Time to say goodbye until our next visit!
Richard and I had a chance to visit St. Clare’s Church. The facade is alternating white and pink stone from Subasio. Construction began in 1257, two years after St. Clare’s canonization.
The main altar is surrounded by a pergola of 12 polygonal columns and a wrought iron railing of medieval times.
The crucifix of Damian is in the Chapel of St. George. It was in 1205 when praying before this crucifix that St. Francis received the calling to work for the church.
Francesca arrives from Senigallia just as the sun is setting on the horizon.
She teaches us about tagliere misto, a charcuterie board of local meats and cheeses and bread with spreads. Yum!
4 Responses
Don’t know how you do it. A really tough city to walk. But a great day of friends and churches! Dan and Wendy
It is really only difficult if you are dragging luggage—I love the little narrow streets and alleyways. It was a great day with friends!
I’m finally back in my house and able to catch up on your last 4 or so postings (R.I.P. termites!) I wish you could see me as I read through your postings and view your photos. I frequently find myself just shaking my head in wonder. What I’m seeing is almost over-whelming in its splendor (the cathedrals, architecture, paintings, sculptures, etc.) You might be tired of hearing this so often, but this trip of yours is really something, and Karen and I frequently comment that we feel like we are traveling with you. You and Richard have done such a great job with this blog. You might be on the cruise ship by now, so bon voyage and hope to see you soon.
I’m glad you have solved the termite problem, but four days is a lot to be out of the house. We are really happy with this year’s vacation, but I have to say every time we love the last thing best! Seeing these friends was so special!!
We are struggling with internet here on the ship so I hope to catch up but it may have to wait. Richard is ahead of me with ReLive so his may be posted first. We have three full days in Rome and one in Cagliari.