Day 11: Chow Assisi

Porta Nuova

After breakfast we took a quick look around the Cathedral of St Francis museum of some of his personal items etc (since he is a sain

Basilica Di Santa Maria Degli Angeli

t these are called relics!) and then caught the local bus to Basilica Di Santa Maria Degli Angeli.  This is in the part of Assisi down in the valley in what seems to be a thriving community. The huge basilica is built over the Portziuncola (the small house that was the nucleus of the first Franciscan monastery).  That was interesting but no less than the the exhibition in the attached museum of nativity scenes from around the world that were part of a competition.  

Bronze plaque of meeting of world religions 1986

There were probably at least 100 (I could not find one from Australia) scenes which were made of different materials and reflected different cultural settings.  As St Francis started nativity scenes it is unsurprising that Assisi is ‘nativity central’.  It is very hard to look at such a scene and feel unhappy!

We caught the train back to Rome on a sunny afternoon.  The hill towns of Spello, Foligno, Trevi, Campello sul Clitunno, Spoleto, and Terni sparkled with white stone we looked up at their walls and towers.  

Nativity El Salvador

Zambian Nativity

Assisi was great but it was so nice to get back to our cosy apartment, make a cup of tea and get our washing done.