Was shortly after an earthquake that had done some damage to the basilica and other buildings (this was in the fall of 1982). My travelling companion and I sat down on a bench to rest our tourist feet. An older woman, from Assisi, was already sitting on the bench, waiting for a bus. When we sat down, the bench bounced a bit, and the poor old woman thought another earthquake was occurring. She shook, wept and we had to take some time to console and reassure her. She must have had a terrifying experience during the earthquake.

That same earthquake had awoken from a nap (I lived in Rome at the time). I thought someone was lying under my bed kicking up at the mattress. It was freaky. I would like to avoid that earth-wobbly feeling again and am grateful we had little damage (a few plates fell off a shelf) and no injuries down in Rome.