In my opinion, visiting Assisi would be the same as visiting the Holy Land. While for some, it’s easier to believe in the lives of Saints than the existence of Jesus Christ. But I leave that up to the reader for sure. To visit Assisi where St Francis and St Claire (a follower of St Francis) did their work and eventually died, was very moving, incredible and somewhat magical. As a member of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Burlingame, which is staffed by the Capuchin Franciscans, my visit to Assisi really hit home.
The first church I encountered was St Claire - where in fact - St Claire is buried. 
I snuck these pictures because they really don’t want you to use cameras. That’s the same for a lot of churches in Europe. I think the rule is there for many reasons, but the main reason would be using a flash, and too many flashes etc can ruin paintings etc. Nowadays, flashes are rarely used, but the rule is still there. St Claire’s tomb is below the church. I didn’t take any pictures, but it was pretty cool.
I wandered through the streets of Assisi - much like Venice - except there are no canals and there are hills! Many many hills. I guess I wasn’t aware that Assisi was a mountain town. When you go down, you have to go up! More on that later.
At the bottom of the hill was the Basilica of St Francis - where at the bottom of the Basilica is where St Francis is laid to rest. I took the steps down to the are and sat in silence for a while. It’s pretty powerful. No pictures of the tomb area. However, by Saturday, I was smart and took some pictures of the upper basilica as well as some of the courtyards.
The Basilica of St Francis is lovely - but the best church - in my opinion is the Basilica of S. Maria degli Angeli - Basilica of St Mary of the Angels. According to the Wiki -
“The basilica was constructed in the Mannerist style between 1569 and 1679, enclosing the 9th-century little church, the Porziuncola, the most sacred place for the Franciscans. It was here that the young Francis of Assisi understood his vocation and renounced the world in order to live in poverty among the poor, and thus started the Franciscan movement.”
Basically built to protect the Porziucola - St Francis’ little church. We were fortunate to catch daily Mass when we walked in. That was a bonus. I got smart and just took as many pictures as possible - and I didn’t forget the pipes.
Pictures of the Porziuncula
The Porziuncula is pretty powerful. There is a replica in San Francisco at the National Shrine - I still haven’t been, but that will change after I return for sure.
I caught this nun with an iron, ironing the altar cloth after mass
There was a statue of St Francis outside the rose garden. There were these two doves - I thought they were not real at first, but they were….
On Sunday we headed up to Eremo Dells Carceri. - a place of work and prayer. A hermitage where St Francis worked and prayed. It was a very quiet and powerful area.
Finishing up with a trip to San Damiano Church. There is great history here with St Claire and St Francis. Here is what the Wiki has to say.
The music minister geek in me was fascinated that is was the place where St Francis wrote the Canticle of the Creatures - or as we know it in the songs “Canticle of Sun” and “All Creatures of Our God and King”.
This is also the place where St Francis let his stigmata show for the very first time. One thing I learned was the St Francis was not a priest. I’m not sure why I thought that.
Assisi is a very powerful place. I hope to return.
Maestro
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