Assisi

Assisi
Comune
Comune di Assisi
Panorama of Assisi
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Assisi
Assisi Location of Assisi in Italy Assisi Assisi (Umbria)
Coordinates:43°04′33″N12°37′03″E
Country	Italy
Region	Umbria
Province	Perugia(PG)
Frazioni	Armenzano,Capodacqua,Castelnuovo,Palazzo,Petrignano,Rivotorto,Santa Maria degli Angeli,San Vitale,Sterpeto,Torchiagina,Tordandrea,Tordibetto,Col d'Erba,Col d'Erba III,Collicello,Passaggio di Assisi,Pian della Pieve,Pieve San Nicolò,Podere Casanova,Ponte Grande,Renaiola,Rocca Sant'Angelo,San Damiano,San Gregorio,San Martino,San Martino Basso,San Presto,Santa Tecla,Tomba,Tombetta,Valecchie
Government
• Mayor	Stefania Proietti
Area
• Total	186.8 km2(72.1 sq mi)
Elevation	424 m (1,391 ft)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	28,299
• Density	150/km2(390/sq mi)
Demonym	Assisiani/Assisiati
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code	06081
Dialing code	075
Patron saint	St. Rufinus of Assisi
Saint day	11 August
Website	Official website
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites
Includes	San Damiano,Eremo delle Carceri,Santuario di Rivotorto,Basilica of Santa Maria degli AngeliandPalazzo del Capitano del Perdono
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv, vi
Reference	990
Inscription	2000 (24thSession)
Area	14,563.25 ha
Buffer zone	4,086.7 ha

Assisiis atownand acomuneinItaly,in the region ofUmbria.Assisi on the western side of the mountain calledMount Subasio.It is an important place because of its art, its architecture and its history. It is especially important to theCatholic religion.It was the birthplace ofSaint Francis of Assisi,who was a Catholicsaint.Saint Francis is most famous because he founded theFranciscanreligious order in the year 1208.Saint Clare,a follower of Saint Francis, was also born in Assisi. She founded an order of religious women called thePoor Clares.

After Saint Francis and Saint Clare died, churches were built in their honor. The Church of Saint Francis, called theBasilicaof Saint Francis of Assisi, is famous as hisburialplace. It is also famous for thefrescopaintings on the walls and ceilings. Many visitors go to Assisi onpilgrimage.Many people also go there to see the town's art. Assisi was made into aUNESCO World Heritage Sitein the year 2000.

History

View of Assisi from theRocca Maggiorefortress

Around 1000 BC, large groups of people settled in this area. These were theUmbrians.They lived in smallfortifiedvillages on high ground. From 450 BC the Umbrians villages were taken over by theEtruscans.Then theRomanstook control of central Italy by theBattle of Sentinumin 295 BC. They levelled out some land in terraces (wide steps) and built a large town calledAsisiumon the side of Mount Subasio. This town becameAssisi.Some buildings still can be seen from Roman times in Assisi. They include the walls, the mainpiazza,and the Temple of the Goddess Minerva, which is now a church calledSanta Maria sopra Minerva.

In 238 AD all the people of Assisi became Christian, because of the teaching of Bishop Rufino. He wasmartyred.It is believe that his body is buried under the Cathedral Church of San Rufino in Assisi.

TheOstrogothsof kingTotiladestroyed most of the town in 545. Then Assisi was the ruled by theLombards,who came from the north of Italy, and then by the Frankish rulers.

In the 11th century (1000s), Assisi became a free town. But there was constant fighting between two groups called the Ghibellines and the Guelphs. Assisi mainly supported the Ghibellines, but the nearest big town,Perugia,supported the Guelphs. During the battle of Ponte San Giovanni (St. John's Bridge), the Guelphs from Perugia managed to capture a young man from Assisi. His name was Francesco di Bernardone. It was partly because of his experiences when he was captured that young Francesco decided that he would change from being a soldier. When he returned to his father's house, he put away all his riches and became a poor, wandering preacher, telling people to turn to God and live in peace with each other. He worked with the poor and the outcast people. They had no church except aruin.St. Francis and his friends rebuilt the tiny ruined church for theshepherdsand other poor people to worship in. It is called the "Porziuncola". Francesco (Francis) founded the Order ofFranciscans.He was "canonized" (made a saint) in 1228 and is known as St. Francis. He is one of the most popular saints.

A largebasilicachurch was built on the side of the mountain, in honour of St Francis, and was beautifully decorated with scenes of his life. One of the most famous scenes shows the story of St. Francis preaching to the birds. In 1997 Assisi was hit by the two earthquakes. Part of the roof of the basilica fell in, killing four people who were standing below, and damaging the painted ceiling. Many people "made donations" (gave money) to repair the building which was reopened less than two years later.

Assisi is aWorld Heritage Site.

Main sights

The Basilica of St. Francis showing the entrance to the Lower Church.

Churches

• TheBasilica of St. Francis of Assisi.The Franciscan monastery, and thebasilicaof St Francis were begun immediately after hiscanonization(being made a saint) in 1228, and completed 1253. The church is on three levels, called the Upper Church, the Lower Church and the crypt. St Francis is buried in the crypt.

In the Upper Church are frescos of scenes in the life of St. Francis. All the papers that belonged to the monastery were destroyed so no-one knows who the monks got to paint the frescoes. For many years, when the names of most other painters of that time were forgotten, people thought they must have been done by the famous artistsGiotto.Very few art historians think this nowadays. Most art historians think they were done by a group of painters from Rome. Other people think that maybe Giotto planned the paintings and did perhaps one or two of them. Giotto's famous teacher,Cimabuedid two enormous frescoes in the upper church, of the "Crucifixion" and "Deposition" (Jesus' body being taken down from the cross). These have been completely ruin by a fire.

Cimabue's famous Madonna and Child with St. Francis

The Lower Church hasfrescosby many late-medievalartists.One is a special and "unique" painting by Cimabue. It shows theMadonna and Childwith angels and St Francis. Because Cimabue was quite old when he did this picture, people believe that he had seen St Francis and was able to paint a "real likeness" of him, not just an imaginary portrait, like many pictures of medieval saints.

In the lower church are pictures byGiotto,Simone Martini,and Taddeo di Bartolo. One picture that is just as famous as the Cimabue Madonna is the "Madonna of the Sunset". This beautiful fresco byPietro Lorenzettihas a gold background. When the sun is setting, at certain times of the year, it shines through a door onto the painting and makes it blaze with light.

• Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary the Greater), is the oldest church in Assisi.
• The Cathedral of San Rufino (St. Rufinus), with aRomanesquefaçadewith threerose windowsand a16th‑centuryinterior. It is partly built over aRomanwell.
• The Basilica of Santa Chiara (St Clare) is aGothischurch begun in 1257. It contains thetombof thesaintand13th‑centuryfrescoesandpaintings.
• Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli(St. Mary of the Angels). It is a large church 4 miles from Assisi. Inside is the "Porziuncola".

Other landmarks

The town has by two ancientcastles.The oldest one was built by the Romans and is partly inruins. The larger castle is calledRocca Maggiore.It was built by Cardinal Albornoz in 1367 and was added to by PopesPius IIandPaul III. UNESCOhas made all the main monuments, the churches and the town of Assisi as aWorld Heritage Site.

Culture

Festival Calendimaggiois held from May 1st-5th. There are processions, theatre, flag-weavers and dance.

Assisi Embroideryis a type of counted-threadembroiderywhich has been practised in Assisi since the13th century.

Today the town has many groups coming to enjoy the simple peace of St. Francis. One such group has restored an 11th-century room and added altars to the world's religions. Pilgrims come from many countries to the Assisi East West Retreat Center in Piazza San Rufino in the spirit of St. Francis to sit and be in peace.

Documentaries

• The Holy Cities: Assisiproduced by Danae Film Production, distributed by HDH Communications (2006).

Photo gallery

• 
  The Piazza del Comune was once the Roman forum.
• 
  The Upper Church of St Francis of Assisi
• 
  The tiny church,Porziuncola,has theChurch of Mary and All Angelsbuilt around it.
• 
  The Church of St. Clare
• 
  Santa Maria sopra Minervawas once a Roman temple.

Other websites

• 360 Assisi- Map, Guide & 360° Pictures
• Assisi OnLine