Assisi

We were waiting at the bottom of the hill for the bus that goes up to Assisi, when suddenly there was a deep rumbling that lasted for sevaral seconds. It felt like there was a train passing underneath us and that any moment it could come through the earth.

The front doors of nearby houses opened and whole families poured out screaming. That’s when I realised that it must have been an earthquake.

The bus finally arrived and took us up into the town. Part of the roof of the famous basilica had fallen down and injured some tourists. It was scary thinking that if we had caught the earlier bus, we could very well have been inside when the earthquake struck.

don’t expect to be able to use credit cards in this (or most rural Italian towns). Bring cash.

I worked my way from the other side of the town to the Basilica, and although i think the town is really pretty i was feeling slightly disillusioned as it seems that way primarily to keep the tourists happy (basically seems to have totally given itself in to tourism, and nothing feels natural), but the lower church at the Basilica in incredible – it just made going there so so worth while.

Do not wear flip-flops/sandals here! The stone roads/sidewalks are very slippery, even when dry.

However, it is very beautiful. :)

I came here with a group from school and it was so beautiful. I loved it. Oh yeah, I even snuck a pic of a priest and a nun talking from long distance. PAPARAZZI!

Assisi is wonderful, and a little bit magic.
It’s a very beautiful and peaceful place to stay :)

Beautiful.

St. Francis is one of my patron saints and what better way to learn more about him than visit his hometown!

I love Assisi – I went before the earthquake. The frescos, the city, the gelato, and the feeling in the entire place was incredible. I wan’t to go back soon!

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.