San Francesco of Assisi

please please please can we not go into another church! this small town of Assisi is jam packed with churches and religious tokens popping out of all the shops.

the visit to the museum was free due to a religious something so we were grateful for that. the town of Assisi is VERY old, very well preserved buildings and art. although there isn't much opulence of the church to preserve in this city because they were the sack and ash kind of christians who shunned all possession.

pretty pot plants. one wonders how one waters them.

the basilica of San Francesco.

no photos allowed... this is the upper church which was built onto of another much older church. both are spectacular, like a fairytale with stars painted on the ceiling and patterns painted everywhere. theres no excessive gold or marble, its just gorgeous.

couldn't take a photo of the lower basilica but it is different and beautiful in its own way. lower arched ceilings and darker, older paintwork it has this dim hushed secret silence. below this is the tomb of San Francesco.

view from Assisi

lots of olive trees growing in every spare space.

another church

view from the castle on the top of the hill. the only thing not maintained that well, maybe because it has nothing to do with religion..

standing on Rocca Maggiore on which is built the castle. translated means major rock

its a nice hike up there

best idea. take a picnic up with you and enjoy the grassy slopes and great view

think about the picnic before you get there because you won't want to walk back up

its one of those old towns where the houses open onto the streets at times, spilling sitting rooms of old Assisians discussing i don't know what they could be discussing.

view of Assisi from the valley below. well this IS a very religious sacred place but a little boring, lovely and quiet for a valentines weekend. but beware they cater for tourists and you won't find any cheap prices here.