Assisi - from top to bottom

Posted Thursday, July 16, 2009 - Photos taken Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Margaret (the GPS) did another admirable job of directing us from the Torre Sangiovanni B&B in Collevalenza to Assisi and the Basilica of St. Francis. Even with the GPS, it was sometimes hard to follow the unmarked mountain roads.

Above the city of Assisi sits the ruins of a castle (Rocca Maggiore) and at the bottom of the city, as if suspended on a cliff overlooking the valley below, sits the Basilica. If one were to drop a ball on the Piazza Matteotti, at the top of Assisi, it would roll all the way to the Basilica if it were not for the turns in the road and the ancient buildings that crowd the street. It only takes about 15 minutes to make the trip downhill - back up is a much different story (I sat on many benches and doorsteps trying to catch my breath.)

Church of Chisea Nuova - built in 1615 - on the assumed site of the birth of St. Francis.

After the3 earthquake in 1997, Structural engineers were summoned to verify that the church was safe. Beneath the church, evidence was found of another church - from earlier times - the floor now has glass covered areas showing the earlier structure.

High Altar in Chiesa Nuova.

Painting in the ceiling.

Ornate balcony concealing organ pipes.

Note the ornate frame on the painting in this church.

Archway on one of the streets.

Flowers in almost every alley in Assisi.