Visiting Assisi
Tiziana was eager
to have us tour Assisi,
a two-hour drive to the northwest in Umbria, a wonderful
regione
(state)
northwest of Abruzzi, which closely resembles nearby Tuscany in its
landscape -- spectacular valleys that act as a bigger and more vivid Napa
Valley. These photos were taken at Assisi, the hill city and
church site of Italy's most beloved saint, St.
Francis, patron saint of animals and ecology and founder of the
Franciscan order.
The city of Santa Maria, as seen from the hills of Assisi.
The frescoes inside
the church portraying the dramatic episodes in the life of St. Francis
were created by Giotto
and his students. His work is the artistic zenith for this period
in pre-Renaissance Italy. Tiziana, who has a laureate degree in the Italian
and Latin classics, was our wonderful guide in pointing out subtleties
of his style. We had a great time visiting this important historical
location in central Italy.
A stunning and dramatic approach to one of the most venerated shrines
for Italians.
Visitors enter on a lower floor and exit above.
Just outside the top level of the church, after exiting the church
proper.
From the top level of the church.
