There were four stages to our trip to Assisi. Walk 8 minutes, ride the Mini-metro for 5 minutes down to Perugia stazione, 20 minutes in the train to Assisi, then 10 minutes in a bus up the hill to the city. All done without a hitch in both directions today.

Assisi has many similarities to Perugia but maybe a little better maintained, feels more affluent, certainly as much beautiful medieval architecture. And many, many souvenir shops selling St Francis souvenirs and wooden religious icons, and shoe shops, and clothes shops, and gelaterias, and cafes and restaurants and pizzerias. Not to mention churches on nearly every corner.





There were many priests, nuns and brothers obviously on various pilgrimages to get their San Francesco fix. We even got carried away with the religious vibe and visited four magnificent churches, which I think is a record for one day.
It was at our first church that Sally (and I) got to climb her first tower of the trip by scaling the “hundreds” of steps up the Torre del Popolo with its huge bell in Chiesa di Santa Maria sopra Minerva.





San Francesco is everywhere; but probably the most solemn part of our day was visiting the wonderful Basilica di San Francesco and walking into the chapel in the crypt to visit his tomb, with the sarcophagus above the altar. No photos allowed here.



Needed sustenance and refreshments around 1:00pm and enjoyed a fine capriciosa pizza washed down with a prosecco and a birra at La Lanterna Pizzeria al Legno.

Laid back evening tonight. Planning our last two days before we head to Roma.

I loved Assisi! Thanks for refreshing my memory!
LikeLike