What we love about Assisi, Italy
The Italian city we love, Assisi, Italy
Waking up the first day and looking out over the town and the nearby country side was the thrill of a lifetime. The thrill began in the spring of ‘15, was re-lit in early summer of ‘19, and will continue in May of ‘23! And, yes, we are again staying at Hotel Ideale (more about Hotel Ideale later). After spending time in Venice and Tuscany, we always return to Assisi to relax and visit the city we love in Italy: Assisi, the home of St Frances of Assisi.
The Umbrian landscape, with rolling hills and small towns and farms and country roads, some lined with cyprus trees.
Thinking about it again takes my breath away once more. You too will find the enchantment, peace and beauty in and around Assisi.
Assisi, absolutely our favorite city in Italy that my wife and I have visited over the two trips to this central, Tuscany and Umbrian region. Why you ask? Because it seems to capture for us the old and original feeling of a city that has not really changed that much.
Narrow streets, shops of art, leather goods, clothing, toys and books, and of course fabulous restaurants to stop and enjoy a simple meal, or a more adventurous five course Italian meal at 8:00 pm. During the day you can stop, sit outside, people-watch over espresso and a delicate pastry.
My main reason for reminiscing is a return trip to Assisi in May of ‘23. Staying at the same hotel, Hotel Ideale,
meeting the owners who remembered us as we made our reservation, having a delicious breakfast and then walking through the main hotel gate, turning left and heading down a narrow road into the main section of the town.
To the left as we enter the city center is a wonderful fountain, and to the right is a Christian Church, Church of Santa Maria,
that was established in the 9th century replacing the pagan structure, The Temple of Minerva. The city center is pedestrian friendly with little auto traffic.
On our last trip, a bride, in her head-to-toe beauty, with two bridesmaids and flower girls, headed up the stairs of the church to celebrate the union of a lifetime in a city of a lifetime.
Heading on through the city we reach the spiritual center piece, The Basilica of St Francis. The narrow road opens onto the inspiring landscape of the Basilica with St Francis, in statue form, humbly heading to the Basilica on his donkey through the grassy knoll fronting the church.
The spiritual serenity is gripping as you reach the Basilica, St Frances of Assisi, and enter the astonishing and imposing, yet simple sanctuary. There is religious music playing with a low tone, with an Italian tenor in the background. There are a few parishioners in the pews waiting for mass. The experience truly takes you back several centuries to the time of St Francis for, I believe, the ambiance must have been the same.
Will my wife and I fully expect our 3rd trip to be as inspiring? Absolutely, and it is with much excitement and anticipation that we await our next chapter in the city of Assisi. We will let you know, so please follow us this spring / summer.