Day 9: The Hermitage

Friends of ours may know that Maureen and I have 27 year joke about our bush walking exploits from the time we met.  I love walking - especially up hills and she does not.  I also underestimate the time and effort of walking for her since it comes easily for me. Hence we end up going on short trips for me that seem insurmountable to Maureen -it happened again on the way to the Hermitage..

the Hermitage

The Hermitage is a monastery in the woods above Assisi leading to Mount Subiaso.  Here Francis and his community went to pray and commune with nature.  It is about 4 km walk uphill from Assisi a place where peace and wellbeing is so easy to experience.  We walked here from the Porta Cappuccini gate out of the walled town – the walk was a real test for both of us in different ways!  Somehow things did not quite work out for our meditation as the chapel was closed for 2 hours due to tourists eating lunch in their - sacrilegious mob!

Piazza San Rufino

We got a taxi back and enjoyed a pizza sitting on a Roman fountain in Piazza San Rufino which faced the Cathedral of San Rufino built over a Roman temple (San Rufino was Assisi’s first martyr in the 3^rd century CE).  Later we sampled some extraordinary pastries and a local shop – there is nothing in Adelaide to compare.

Assisi flower boxes

Mark went to evening Mass at St Francis Cathedral which included the profession of a Conventual Brother accompanied with great fanfare, TV cameras and a full house.  This was the second sung Mass in two days -stirring stuff.

We have found the restaurants in Rome and Assisi mixed so far and decided to sample the home cooking at the Franciscan Sisters Monastery – a good choice:  First course is always pasta, second – vegetables and meat with wine and, finally, fruit but no tea or coffee – that is served with breakfast.  Italians do not use milk in their tea but instead have a squirt of lemon juice – it is growing on us.