Assisi – a Roman walk

Compared to the other hilltowns we visited this week, Assisi was not as much a hill town, but a pilgrim destination and a very religious experience – if you could get past the crowds of people.   We started at the upper side of town and worked our way down to the basilica.  The old roman area, which is now supporting the walls of a neighborhood.  You can still see the curve of the original walls, and the homes are filled with very elderly people (mom thought we were walking into an old folks home).Troy & Alexandra just outside the city walls with an amazing view of the countryside below.  It was very entertaining watching the cars & trucks jockey their way thru the old city gates. It is interesting that the basilica isn’t built on the highest point of the hill, there is already a fortress up there…(Fortress Maggiore)  The walk thru the town took us to the cathedral (where St Francis was baptized).  It was under this cathedral, following the 1997 earthquake, that a cemetery & Roman temple (from the time of Christ) were found, that were the foundations for the original church at this site.  The girls loved climbing the lions that were guarding the main entrance, even if the lions were eating Christian martyrs at the same time… then continuing to the town center where they were setting up for the medieval festival (traditional costumes & roasted pigs)    The temple of Minerva, now the church of Santa Maria, is directly in the center of town.  Temple on the outside Church on the inside. Setting up for the parade… even the bins are decorated.

and flowers everywhere (even if they weren’t real they were appreciated as the first flowers we have seen all spring – we have had a VERY wet & cold spring) taking a break from the views, Alexandra decided she was done with the stroller. a family photo or two and then the girls were off down the hill… and on to the basilica…