This weekend we finally got to travel around Italy. The weather was p-e-r-f-e-c-t and I couldn't have been happier.. We hoped on a bus at the crack of down Friday and drove two and a half hours to Assisi. The first site of Assisi is like nothing I had ever seen before. The city sits on the top of the biggest hill and you can see the creme colored historical buildings from miles away. We arrived in Assisi to be welcomed by this man who worked where the public restrooms were. He asked us if we were from American and proceeded to shout in the very little English he knew "Obama" Obama"!! With two thumbs way up high he was a happy camper to see Americans! It was quite entertaining and he continued to say, " Obama, bambino" which in Italian means pregnant.. he was excited to and had to take pictures with us.
After that warm welcome we met up with Bob's good friend who lived in Assisi and spoke perfect English, which I was more than happy about. He brought us around Assisi telling us facts and history points. The city sits on a hill because it used to be covered with water and the future up you went the older the buildings got because the top was built first and after the water was drained they were able to make more life downwards. We then continued to tour the Basilica di San Franceso. Before we toured around the tour guide told us some great history about the Basilica and San Franceso.The church is rather incongruous memorial to a man who preached and lived a simple life of poverty, abstinence, and renunciation of worldly goods in search of greater spirituality.It is an extremely powerful place for people who are believers and have a passion for arts.
San Franceso died in 1226 and in 1818, the tomb of St. Francis was rediscovered beneath the high altar, after lying hidden for almost 600 years. When the coffin was opened, Francis' skeleton was found fully intact. This is very rare for such a popular medieval saint. He was than buried and later the church was built around the Francis's tomb and is split into two levels and Francis's tomb is located in the lower level of the church and you are able to go see it and pray to Francis but not able to see his body only the tomb. It is one of the most life changing experiences in a spiritual level too. Pope John Paul 2nd had visited this church 6 times in his life because this church was actually made for the Pope NOT for St. Francis but his memorial is there now. We continued to enjoy the rest of the day with a beautiful walk, stopping for lunch, enjoying a good glass of wine and Italy has the most amazing juice ever. We asked for juice before we left and they made it fresh.. they cut up about 6 oranges and squeeze them and serve it only like that with the pulp in it.. it is great!!
We continued to Lucca the next day early in the morning. Lucca is absolutely beautiful and is surrounded by a very historical wall. The city is very family-orianted and has a lot of kind people and lots of dogs everywhere. We visited Saint Martin and Saint Zita which you are able to go and view her body which is 700 years old. She is looking good for her age! Lucca was beautiful but small; I would go visit it again anytime!
This was a great weekend to start traveling and learning about different parts of Italy! Cortona and Bologna is next! Can't wait!
Ti Amo! xo
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