Early morning start - 7.30 - catching up with some Belgian fellows who’d stayed at our apartments. They are travelling in reverse Assisi to La Verna.
Some murals along the street as we left Valfabbrica
Misty morning
Some slippery clay sections today
Mostly flat
Some beautiful country houses with vineyards
First view of Assisi
Fountains along the route
Some road walking
We came to the base of Assisi
Quite a steep climb
To the town’s entry gates
A short walk down to the main basilica
We followed the locals up into the main town
High up after another steep ascent is the original church of Assisi, St Rufio.
Where both St Francis and Saint Clare were baptised as children
I excelled myself with this booking as we climbed higher.
At last we found it, via our trusty GPS. In 1976 when we visited here last time as young backpackers, we walked up from the station and a young boy, about 10, offered us a room. We took it, paid him and never saw the (adult) owners. Today we spoke to the owners on the mobile, left the money and sent our passport photos via What’s app - never to meet. Nothing’s changed but the technology.
Our small apartment is perfectly adequate but it is like a monk’s cell.
Cross stitch design over our bed
Lunch in one of the main piazzas
We caught up with all our companions of the last 2 weeks
A visit to the main church of Santa Chiara, where her remains have been placed in the crypt
Early frescoes
The castle of Rocca Maggiore
Sculpture in the grounds of the basilica of San Francesco
We attended the pilgrims’ mass at 6pm
So many churches and museums to visit
And did I mention the shopping.. no room in my pack for gems like this.
And restaurants..
Such an attractive town
We found a popular restaurant up an alley for dinner, La Lanterna.
Seafood pizza
Then up we climbed to find our apartment embedded in the town’s walls.
What a wonderful day - stunning weather - a fitting finish to the first half of our journey.
M&M
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