As you might have guessed, the popular San Francesco pervades this place. In the form of relics, of stories, of art and of tacky plastic statues. But there it is. Everybody needs to eat, even tacky plastic statues makers, I guess.
We took a walking tour of Assisi today, that was excellent. From the top of the town, Assisi's Roman roots are evident with the existence of a Roman amphitheatre, which is now the semi urban "greenspace" for a cute little neighbourhhood that sprung up in the 13th century. This path surrounding the small amphitheatre leads to the oldest church in Assisi, the church of San Stefano.
On to the church of Assisi's patron, San Rufino, and continuing on down the hill to the stunning church of Santa Chiara, considered to be original church in the true Gothic style in Italy. Here are relics of both Saint Francis and Saint Clare, and the tomb of Saint Clare. My most treasured part of the visit to this church, however, is the chapel which contains the San Damiano Crucifix, the very same one that Jesus spoke to Saint Francis from, 800 years ago.
After some significant time of hanging out in the lovely hot sun of the afternoon, we tackled the church that was built to honor Saint Francis, the foundation begun the day after his canonization only two years after his death. The architectural highlight was the fact that in the late 1200's the church crypt was built in a remarkable two year period, for those 1200's guys and all their crude hand tools, that was pretty darn good.
The artistic marvels were the frescoes, dozens of them, done primarily by Giotto and his gang, rebels and revolutionaries in the medieval art world. Sparky and I could have spent hours and hours and HOURS in the church, reading the graphic novel-like scenes around the church, we do have children with time limits, sugar and budgetary limits (okay, children, one gelato each for every church we visit today) we satisfied ourselves with a couple of hours, marvelling at the life and legacy of Saint Francis.
Tomorrow we are off the the Eternal City, check in then...
We took a walking tour of Assisi today, that was excellent. From the top of the town, Assisi's Roman roots are evident with the existence of a Roman amphitheatre, which is now the semi urban "greenspace" for a cute little neighbourhhood that sprung up in the 13th century. This path surrounding the small amphitheatre leads to the oldest church in Assisi, the church of San Stefano.
On to the church of Assisi's patron, San Rufino, and continuing on down the hill to the stunning church of Santa Chiara, considered to be original church in the true Gothic style in Italy. Here are relics of both Saint Francis and Saint Clare, and the tomb of Saint Clare. My most treasured part of the visit to this church, however, is the chapel which contains the San Damiano Crucifix, the very same one that Jesus spoke to Saint Francis from, 800 years ago.
After some significant time of hanging out in the lovely hot sun of the afternoon, we tackled the church that was built to honor Saint Francis, the foundation begun the day after his canonization only two years after his death. The architectural highlight was the fact that in the late 1200's the church crypt was built in a remarkable two year period, for those 1200's guys and all their crude hand tools, that was pretty darn good.
The artistic marvels were the frescoes, dozens of them, done primarily by Giotto and his gang, rebels and revolutionaries in the medieval art world. Sparky and I could have spent hours and hours and HOURS in the church, reading the graphic novel-like scenes around the church, we do have children with time limits, sugar and budgetary limits (okay, children, one gelato each for every church we visit today) we satisfied ourselves with a couple of hours, marvelling at the life and legacy of Saint Francis.
Tomorrow we are off the the Eternal City, check in then...
It's definitely amazing what people built back in the day before all the fancy equipment we have now. I would love to see some of these churches... maybe someday! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, so amazing, as a Catholic you would LOVE LOVE LOVE!
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