Yesterday our BC group returned from a splendid trip to the region of Umbria where we walked in the steps of Francis of Assisi and Benedict of Norcia. In addition to visiting these two places of pilgrimage, we were able to browse the towns and country around them, including a visit to the mountain region of Castelluccio and the historic city of Perugia.
Among the highlights from the trip for me:
- Praying in the places where these great saints–so crucial to the Church and Western civilization–lived and ministered.
- Walking the peaceful small towns and tasting of their culinary delights–in particular local salami, sausage, and cheese
- An encounter with ruins of the ancient Etruscan civilization in Perugia–I hadn’t expected this and learned a great deal from our guide, Franceso.
- Climbing our way (in the bus) up the Umbrian mountains and getting out to take in the vast panoramas they provide. Our group thus got to enjoy some natural beauty straight from the hand of God in addition to taking in the man-made beauty of the local towns.
- A visit to the Benedictine Church of San Miniato al Monte, located atop a huge hill overlooking Florence. This was not part of our group trip; rather, the Ramages made this trek the day before leaving. It is a splendid medieval church that is intricately appointed without being overdone. It also has a sacristy that treats the entire life of St. Benedict in art.
It was great for my family to travel to these places with our local guide, as some of these sites are not on the standard tourist/pilgrim itinerary yet remain well worthy of a stop.
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- Close-up of Benedict casting out a demon–from the sacristy of San Miniato in Florence
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- Another beautiful sunset with Duomo (left) from outside our residence
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- Joseph with Olio Santo–this “holy oil” is what the Italians call the glorious product that ensues when olive oil is marinated with crushed red pepper.
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- Panoramic view of Florence from the famous Piazzale Michelangelo with Duomo (between us) and Santa Croce (right)
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- Facade of San Miniato in Florence
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- Crypt of San Miniato, with various types of columns recycled from Roman buildings
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- Unfinished fresco in San Miniato, revealing an earlier step in the process by which artists created their masterpieces
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- Unique baldacchino of the Benedictine Church of San Miniato in Florence
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- The Benedictine Church of San Miniato in Florence–view from above the altar
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- Well-preserved Roman temple that surprises you as you walk down the quaint streets of Assisi
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- Facade of the church of St. Claire
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- Assisi view from the church of St. Claire
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- Church of St. Clare with the famous San Damiano crucifix in the rear
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- Jen in front of the olive groves on the path down from the old town of Assisi to S. Maria degli Angeli below
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- San Damiano, site where St. Claire lived, fended off Muslim invaders with the Eucharist, and died
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- Franceso teaching our group about Francis’ poetry. He was one of the very first Italians to write poetry in the vernacular rather than in Latin
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- Santa Maria degli Angeli
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- Stone ground where St. Francis used to sleep
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- Facade of Santa Maria degli Angeli where Francis died. Located within the church is another small church, the famous Portiuncola
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- Beautiful path down to the church of St. Felix in the countryside
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- Entrance to Benedict’s church in Norcia indicating that the saint is the head patron of all of Europe
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- Crypt in Norcian church in the site where the boy Benedict once lived
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- Crypt of St. Felix church with the local saint’s relics
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- Former stable, present dining room of a hotel that was once the monastery of St. Felix
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- Julia selling us drinks in a park in Visso
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- Cool unfinished facade of Perugia’s Dominican church
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- Second-largest stained-glass window in Italy, located in Perugia’s Dominican church
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- Tomb of Pope Benedict XI, whom many think was poisoned here in Perugia. When he died, French leaders happened to be in town, and then the pope (Clement V) immediately elected in the ensuing conclave happened to be French, and then he happened to move the papacy to Avignon, France
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- Etruscan tombs discovered one day in Perugia when a guy gardening fell dozens of feet into the ground and landed among them
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- Close-up of the inscription on the Etruscan tomb–it reads right to left (like Semitic languages), but it has Latin/Greek-style letters. The origins of the Etruscans remain a mystery to historians.
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- Statue of St. Benedict replicated on our campus, with church containing the saint’s former home in background
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- Ramages in the mountains surrounding Castelluccio
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- Ramages in the mountains surrounding Castelluccio
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- Joseph enjoying himself in the little town of Visso
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- Medieval city hall-castle and fountain facing Perugia’s cathedral in the main town square
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- Ancient Etruscan arch–one of the first of its kind–underneath the old town of Perugia
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- Princess Julia with her crown in Perugia’s Sunday market (she tasted wine for the first time here–and unfortunately liked it!)
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- Facade of the cathedral in Perugia–left unfinished yet beautiful in its own right
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- Christ the Judge in the apse of San Miniato in Florence
