Assisi (and Perugia) were actually the first two trips we went on, the first weekend we got there at the end of January. Our school had planned trips the first two weekends to keep us busy so we wouldn’t be homesick and it worked out pretty well. The first weekend we went to Perugia and Assisi, and the second weekend we went to Siena and San Gimignano on a day trip. Although these trips were short and the towns were tiny, they packed so much exploring (and eating) into them so we really got the most out of it. I would highly recommend doing a tour on any of these small towns, or large ones for that matter because these tour guides really are experts of the town, know cool little facts, and are a great way to learn a lot in a short amount of time.
Sights & Activities
BASILICA OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI: The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage site as of 2000 and a prominent landmark in Assisi where Saint Francis was born and died. It was consecrated in 1253 and comprises of two churches, the Upper Church and the Lower Church and a crypt below where he was buried. He was an Italian Roman Catholic friar, deacon and preacher, making himself one of the most venerated religious figures in history. He also founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of Saint Clare, the Third Order of Saint Francis, and along with Saint Catherine of Siena was designated Patron saint of Italy. This Basilica is truly a work of art and the attention to detail is almost overwhelming from the second you step inside until you leave. Few places I went abroad actually made my jaw drop but when we stepped inside the Basilica I couldn’t help it. We weren’t allowed to take photos of the inside but if you ever find yourself in Assisi, going into the Basilica is something I promise you won’t forget. *It also helps to have a tour guide when you go in because they’ll be able to explain the significance of the frescos and details – as incredible as it is to just walk inside and look around, when they tell you the stories behind everything, it really puts it into a historical perspective that emphasizes just how remarkable it is that they could create something of this nature almost 800 years ago.
BASILICA OF SAINT CLARE OF ASSISI: Known in Italian as the Basilica di Santa Chiara, this is a 13th century church that houses the relics of Saint Clare, a follower and friend of Francis. She was most commonly known for being the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies and wrote their rule of life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman. It faces the Basilica of Saint Francis and the facade is made of horizontal stripes of Assisian pink and white stone.
Food & Drink
We were only here for a few hours so we didn’t really eat much but if you like merengues, you’ll love them here. They were in almost every store window and probably five times bigger than the ones we’re used to in the U.S. – definitely worth picking one up (If you’re struggling with jet lag, the sugar in one of these will be enough to keep you up for awhile!)