Assisi is an Italian town of 28 391 inhabitants in the province of Perugia in Umbria. It is known for being the city where St. Francis, patron saint of Italy, and St. Clare lived and died.
Piazza del Comune - Only in the thirteenth century did this urban area become the hub of the city. The northern side is centered on the Temple of Minerva, to the left of which the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo was built (mid-13th century - 1282), restored and equipped with battlements in 1927, together with the adjacent Torre del Popolo (1305), bell tower house at whose feet the fourteenth-century measures of bricks, tiles and fabrics used in the city are walled up; with the construction of the Palazzo dei Priori (1275 - 1493) the southern side was also completed. The Fonte di Piazza with three lions on the eastern side dates back to the sixteenth century, while the Post Office building on the western side dates back to 1926.
Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi (divided into lower and upper
parts)
Basilica of Santa Chiara
Cathedral of San Rufino
Church
of Santa Maria Maggiore
Church of St. Peter
Church of San Giacomo
de Murorupto
New Church
Pilgrims' Oratory
Oratory of San
Francesco Piccolino
Church of Santo Stefano
Basilica of Santa
Maria degli Angeli with the Porziuncola
Hermitage of the Carceri on
Mount Subasio
Church of San Damiano
Church of Santa Maria in
Rivotorto (Shrine of Rivotorto, 19th century church in Gothic style
built to repair the "hovel" of St. Francis)
Abbey of San Benedetto,
was founded in the 10th century on the slopes of Mount Subasio;
destroyed in 1399, it was restored in the seventeenth century. All that
remains are the perimeter walls, the apse and the crypt, dating back to
the second half of the 11th century.
Episcopal palace, where Saint
Francis renounced his father's assets.
Church of Santa Maria Sopra
Minerva
Roman amphitheater, built in the first half of the 1st century AD, of
which the elliptical layout remains, reiterated by the layout of the
medieval houses and by an arch made of travertine wedges, while the
arena is defined by a built-up part and the a garden. Inside the arena,
some buildings, equipped for tourist accommodation, allow you to enjoy
an appreciable overall view of the entire archaeological site.
Rocca
Maggiore, located on the top of the hill overlooking the valley and
built in the early Middle Ages, was destroyed by a popular uprising
(1198) against Duke Conrad of Urslingen, guardian of the future Emperor
Frederick II of Swabia. It was rebuilt in 1356 by Cardinal Egidio
Albornoz, substantially respecting the original forms; only later were
the polygonal tower (1458) and the cylindrical bastion alongside the
entrance (1535-1538) added. It seems that Frederick Barbarossa and
Frederick II stayed in the fortress while still a child.
Piazza del
Comune, only in the thirteenth century did this urban area become the
hub of the city. The northern side is centered on the Temple of Minerva,
to the left of which the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo was built
(mid-13th century - 1282), restored and equipped with battlements in
1927, together with the adjacent Torre del Popolo (1305), bell tower
house at whose feet the fourteenth-century measures of bricks, tiles and
fabrics used in the city are walled up; with the construction of the
Palazzo dei Priori (1275 - 1493) the southern side was also completed.
The Fonte di Piazza with three lions on the eastern side dates back to
the sixteenth century, while the Post Office building on the western
side dates back to 1926.
Temple of Minerva
Count Pucci's yew, a
large example of a monumental, evergreen tree, grown in a raised garden
in the historic center of the city and included in the list of trees of
significant and peculiar interest in the Umbria region.
Roverella di
via Lorenzo Perosi, an example of a monumental tree, located in the
upper part of the city; due to the relevance of its age and size it has
been included in the List of trees of significant and peculiar interest
in the Umbria region.
May Day. Beginning of May. Re-enactment of medieval life in a
challenge between the two city factions of Parte de Sopra and Parte de
Sotto, with processions, theatrical performances, music, songs, dances
and flag-waving.
Mother's Day. Second Sunday of May. In memory of the
institution of this festival (for the first time in Italy) in 1957, in
Tordibetto, by the parish priest Don Otello Migliosi.
Voting
Festival. June 22nd. It recalls the expulsion of the Saracens from
Assisi by Santa Chiara.
Palio of San Rufino. End of August.
Historical re-enactment of the period in which Assisi was divided into
districts (San Francesco, San Rufino and Dive Mariae) with processions,
flag-wavers and drummers from the Balestrieri Company of Assisi, who on
the last day compete in a crossbow shooting competition.
Satriano's
Cavalcade. September. Jockeys in period costume retrace the journey that
the Assisi knights made to fetch St. Francis from Nocera Umbra, so that
he could die in his city.
International Festival for Peace.
September. Concerts, seminars, round tables and art exhibitions
dedicated to the theme of peace, solidarity and ecology are held.
March for peace Perugia-Assisi. September–October, biennial.
Feast of
St. Francis. October 3-4. Solemn liturgical ceremonies and civic events
are held to celebrate the saint, patron saint of Italy, although since
2008 it has returned to being a day of work and study.
Assisi film
festival. End of November. Event dedicated to Italian cinema, actors and
directors.
Easter Palio Rosata. Historical re-enactment of the
traditional palio originally held on the day of Pentecost
By plane
Perugia Sant'Egidio Airport, 12 km from Assisi.
On
the train
Assisi station. A few kilometers from the town center,
descending into the plain near the town of Santa Maria degli Angeli,
Assisi has its own railway station on the Foligno-Terontola line.
By bus
There is a bus service that connects Santa Maria degli
Angeli to Assisi.
Cantina Tili Vini, via cannella 2 (exit Cannara n°9 of the SS75 and then follow the signs for CENTRO TAU which is in front of the cellar), ☎ +39 075 8064370, fax: +39 075 8069014, info@tilivini.com. Local family and historic winery that produces Assisi Doc wines, of which she was the founder, and extra virgin olive oil. At the company you can participate in thematic tours and guided wine tastings with typical local products.
The many shops display a variety of local arts and crafts, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics and reproductions of medieval weapons and tools. Embroidery and chocolate production are also typical of the area. Religious items are most purchased at the gift shop behind the lower floor of San Francesco Basilica. Be careful of prices which can sometimes be inflated to tourists.
1 I Monaci, Via Eugenio Brizzi 8 - Scalinata dei Fiumi 10 (near the
Metastasio theatre), ☎ +39 075 8089206. Typical cuisine and good quality
pizzas at a good price.
2 Ristorante Pizzeria Il Menestrello, Via San
Gregorio, 1/A, ☎ +39 075 812746,
info@ristorantepizzeriailmenestrello.it.
3 Mangiar Divino, via
Francalancia 2/corso Mazzini, ☎ +39 075 8155132, fax: +39 075 815532,
info@mangiardivinoassisi.it. Mon-Sun 12:00-23:00.
4 A Casa di Bacco,
via Giotto, 8, ☎ +39 075 812476.
Modest prices
1 Hotel Sole, Corso Mazzini 35, ☎ +39 075 812373,
fax: +39 075 813706, info@assisihotelsole.com. Simple but more than
decent hotel; it also has the advantage of being located in the centre,
all the monuments can be easily reached on foot.
Average prices
2 Hotel Berti, Via di Valecchie, 177 (In Piazza San Pietro), ☎ +39 075
813466.
3 Agriturismo B&B Alla Madonna del Piatto, Via Petrata, 37 (7
km outside Assisi near Petrata Castle), ☎ +39 075 8199050,
letizia.mattiacci@libero.it. €90. Check-in: 4pm, check-out: 10am. Small
and intimate B&B in a quiet area with all rooms with splendid views.
They offer fun cooking classes.
4 Country House San Potente, Via San
Potente, 14 (A few kilometers from the historic center of Assisi), ☎ +39
075 812372, info@sanpotenteassisi.it. €30/40. Check-in: 4pm, check-out:
10am. Villa with six bedrooms on two floors. Two of the six apartments
are on the first floor, and there is a small but welcoming common room.
On the ground floor there is the reception, while in the park there is a
recent construction, with two of its four apartments suitable for people
with disabilities.
High prices
5 Grand Hotel Assisi, Via
Giovanni Renzi 2, ☎ +39 07581501, info@bvgrandhotelassisi.com. 150 rooms
and 6 suites, all equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, mini-bar
and telephone with direct line for fax and personal computer as well as
a cable connection with the hotel's conference centre, allowing guests
to watch events live conferences on closed-circuit TV.
Post office
Poste Italiane, Largo Properzio 4, ☎ +39 075 8190711,
fax: +39 075 813785.
Poste Italiane, Piazza San Pietro 4/A, ☎ +39 075
815178, fax: +39 075 812691.
Poste Italiane, Via Monte Subasio 1 (in
Rivotorto), ☎ +39 075 8064841, fax: +39 075 8064083.
Poste Italiane,
Via Assisana 37/a (in Viole d'Assisi), ☎ +39 075 8064839, fax: +39 075
8065225.
Poste Italiane, Via Michelangelo 7/a (at Palazzo d'Assisi),
☎ +39 075 8037021, fax: +39 075 8037014.
Poste Italiane, Via delle
Fonti (without number) (in Castelnuovo di Assisi), ☎ +39 075 8043071,
fax: +39 075 8043134.
Tourist Information and Reception Office (IAT), Piazza del Comune, ☎ +39 075 8138680, +39 075 8138681, fax: +39 075 8138686, info@iat.assisi.pg.it.
From the foundation to the barbarian invasions
The oldest
traces of human presence in the Assisi area date back to the
Neolithic.
Numerous archaeological finds indicate that Assisi
draws its origins from a small village inhabited by the Umbrians
already in the Villanovan period (IX - VIII century BC). As shown by
the various archaeological finds found, the Umbrians maintained deep
relationships (especially commercial) with the Etruscans, settled on
the western bank of the Tiber, from which they differed, however, in
language and culture.
The Romans in 295 BC, with the battle
of the Sentino, definitively imposed their dominion also in Central
Italy. The Umbrian city had the name of Asisium and was
monumentalized starting from the 2nd century BC. In 89 BC it became
a municipium and was an important economic and social center of the
Roman Empire. Its toponym has prelatine origins, and retaining an
uncertain etymology, it is interpreted in two different ways. City
of the falcon, or of the goshawk or from the Latin base bones or
stream with obvious reference to the Assino river. During the third
century, thanks to the action of St. Rufino, bishop and martyr,
Christianity began to spread.
With the collapse of the Roman
Empire, Assisi also experienced the dark age of the barbarian
invasions and, in 545, was sacked by the Goths of Totila. Conquered
by the Byzantines, it passed shortly after (568) under the Lombard
rule and was annexed to the Duchy of Spoleto, with which it shared
the fate until the beginning of the 12th century.
From the
communal age to the Renaissance
After a period of wars, in 1174
it was besieged and conquered by Frederick Barbarossa, who gave the
investiture of the city to Duke Conrad of Lutzen, also known as
Conrad of Urslingen: Assisi became imperial dominion, but popular
uprisings (1198) soon inaugurated the municipal era, not without
internal struggles and wars with nearby Perugia. Between 1181 and
1182, Francis was born in Assisi - son of Pietro di Bernardone and
Madonna Pica - the future saint who, with his work, will mark the
history of the place and of humanity.
In 1198 the people of
Assisi, tired of the arrogance of the Duke of Lutzen, rebelled and
expelled him from the city. During the end of the first half of the
thirteenth century, the Guelph Assisi suffered various sieges by the
Saracen and Tartar troops belonging to the great army of Frederick
II of Swabia. The imperial troops devastated the countryside on
several occasions but the city, thanks to the value of its militias
and the charisma of Santa Chiara, resisted the incursions. In the
following years Assisi saw Guelphs and Ghibellines alternate in
control of the city. Subsequently the city passed under the dominion
of the Church, of the Perugini, of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, of the
Montefeltro, of Braccio Fortebraccio da Montone, finally passing
under the control of Francesco Sforza.
In November 1442
Assisi, defended in that period by Alessandro Sforza, undergoes the
siege of the troops commanded by Piccinino. After many days of vain
attempts, the besieging troops, also thanks to the help of a traitor
friar, manage to penetrate inside the walls. Assisi was heavily
devastated and sacked but Piccinino still opposed the complete
destruction of the city by refusing the 15,000 florins offered by
the Perugians. The factions linked to the Nepis (of the "parte de
sopra") and Fiumi (of the "Parte de Sotto") families faced each
other until the 16th century when the conquest of Umbria by Pope
Paul III returned to the city a period of peace and quiet.
From the modern age to today
Starting from the 17th century,
thanks to the foundation of institutes and academies, cultural
activity resumed with great fervor, interrupted by the period of the
Napoleonic wars (1799), when the French troops under the command of
Napoleon Bonaparte sacked the city and many works of art. art.
In 1860, with a unanimous plebiscite, he joined the nascent
Italian state. The unification will allow the city to gradually open
up to the outside, thanks also to the construction of the railway
yard. With the discovery of the bodies of San Francesco (1818) and
Santa Chiara (1850), Assisi became a privileged destination for
pilgrimages; religious tourism gave a strong increase to the rebirth
of the local economy.
During the Second World War, in the period following 8 September
1943 and the German occupation, Assisi was literally invaded by
refugees, including over 300 Jews. Bishop Giuseppe Placido Nicolini
- assisted by the secretary, Don Aldo Brunacci, and by the guardian
of the Convent of San Damiano, Father Rufino Niccacci - transformed
Assisi into one of the main centers of Italian civil resistance to
the Holocaust. Disguised as friars and nuns, hidden in the basement
and cellars, camouflaged among the displaced, with false documents,
the Jews who took refuge in Assisi are protected by a vast network
of solidarity that also extends to other areas of Umbria and has
contacts, also through the cyclist Gino Bartali, with the resistance
and financing centers of DELASEM in Liguria and Tuscany. The task is
difficult.
Among the refugees there are women, children, the
elderly, the sick, who need care and assistance for their daily
needs. A school is even organized where Jewish children can receive
Jewish religious education. Thanks also to the complicity of the
German colonel Valentin Müller, who will declare Assisi a hospital
free zone, no Jew will be deported from Assisi.
After the
war, Bishop Giuseppe Placido Nicolini, Don Aldo Brunacci and Father
Rufino Niccacci received the high honor of righteous among the
nations from the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem, together with
Luigi and Trento Brizi who in their small souvenir shop near the
square Santa Chiara have provided for the printing of many false
identity documents. In 1985 the film Assisi Underground by Alexander
Ramati reconstructs the events and the protagonists of those years.
In 2004 the Gold Medal for Civil Valor was awarded to the city of
Assisi for the civic commitment shown by the entire population.
On 27 October 1987, at the invitation of Pope John Paul II, the
main representatives of the world's religions gathered in Assisi for
a prayer meeting in the name of St. Francis, prophet of peace as the
pontiff himself defined him, starting the "spirit of Assisi ".
In 2000 the city of Assisi, the Papal Basilica of San Francesco,
that of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the other Franciscan places,
with almost all of the municipal territory, constitute a site
included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The city of Assisi is located on the north-western side of Mount Subasio, in a moderately raised position with respect to the northern Umbrian Valley, about 26 km southeast of Perugia.
The municipal territory of Assisi includes both flat,
hilly and low mountain portions. The city, thanks to its position on
the hills and overlooking the Umbrian Valley, has a pleasant
climate, but transitional between the lowland area to the west and
the more mountainous area to the east, with hot but not sultry
summers and winters that are not excessively rigid. Winter
characteristic are the temperatures perceived by the human body
following the cold north winds that flow along the north-western
edge of Mount Subasio and can considerably lower the perceived
temperature. Once or twice a year, snow also appears in the city,
but thanks to its sheltered position, it is very unlikely that it
falls in significant quantities. Spring and autumn tend to be rainy
and quite warm.
The areas of the municipal territory in a
flat position, on the other hand, have a climate characterized by
slightly warmer summers than the city, sometimes muggy due to the
higher humidity, while in the autumn and winter period on clear sky
days they are often covered by fog that sometimes lasts throughout
the day.
In winter, frost can occur both in the city and in
the valley below, with night temperatures even well below zero
degrees. The territory north of the municipal capital, which extends
towards the municipalities of Nocera Umbra, Gualdo Tadino and
Valfabbrica, is of a hilly-low mountain type, and therefore has a
climate more similar to the mountain one, with summers that are not
too hot and usually windy. , while the winters are sometimes harsh
with locally abundant snowfalls, especially following the irruptions
of cold air from the north-east.