Adventure in Assisi: In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare

Hello everyone! Are you ready for a fantastic adventure in magical Assisi? Together we will explore the city of Saint Francis, full of incredible stories and mysterious places!

Basilica of Santa Chiara, The Princess Who Escaped at Night

Hello, explorers! Here is our first stop: the beautiful Basilica of Saint Clare, with its pink and white stones that look like slices of a gigantic cake! Did you know that Clare was a wealthy young girl who ran away from home at 18 in the dead of night? It's true! On Palm Sunday night in 1212, she cut her long hair (which you can see preserved inside here!) and fled to follow Francis and live in poverty just like him. Shall we enter together? Shhh, let's move quietly! Look to the right: that wooden crucifix is very special. It's called the Crucifix of San Damiano and it has an incredible story: one day, while Francis was praying in front of this cross, BOOM! The statue of Jesus spoke to him! He was asked to "repair His house." Initially, Francis thought he had to fix the little crumbling church (what a blunder!), but he later realized he had to help people become kinder. Do you know what's beneath our feet? Let's go down into the crypt! Here lies the tomb of Saint Clare. Guess what? When they opened her tomb after 600 years, her body was still perfect, as if she were sleeping! Isn't that amazing? In this church, look for the habit (the brown nun's robe) that Francis gave Clare when she ran away from home. Imagine: it was dark, cold, and she trembled with fear but also with excitement for her new adventure! Quiz question: if you could run away from home to follow an important dream like Clare did, what would you take with you? Just one thing! Now let's exit and go down Sermei Street. Can you count to 100? Before you reach 100 steps, we'll be standing in front of the house where Francis was born! Ready? Start the countdown!

Chiesa Nuova: Where Little Francis Used To Throw Tantrums

Here we are! Did you know that this church is called "Nuova" (New) but is over 400 years old? It’s like if your great-grandmother were named "Baby"! Funny, isn't it? This is precisely the place where Francesco was born and lived as a child. I wonder if he too threw tantrums like all of us at some point? Look over there to the right! Do you see that small room? That's Francesco's "prison"! No, he wasn’t a thief! It's just that his father, Mr. Pietro, was furious because Francesco had started giving away all his clothes and even food to the poor. So, he locked him up here, saying, "That will teach you to throw away my money!" But do you know who saved him? His mother! As soon as his father left on a journey, she opened the door and let him out. Mothers are always the best accomplices, aren't they? Now look at the center of the church: that little space protected by a grate was the stable where Francesco was born. Just like Jesus! It is said that Francesco's mother was about to have the baby when a mysterious pilgrim (perhaps an angel in disguise!) suggested she go to the stable to give birth. A strange coincidence, don’t you think? Super fun trivia: did you know that Francesco was not initially named Francesco? His mother had called him Giovanni! But when his father returned from a trip to France, where he had made excellent deals, he decided to rename him "Francesco," which means "the little Frenchman." It’s like he changed his name as if he were a puppy! Imagine if your parents decided to change your name after a nice trip: "From today on, we’ll call you Londrino or Parigina!" Another astounding fact: in this garden, Francesco cultivated roses, his favorite flowers. On a frosty winter night, as everyone was shivering from the cold, the roses miraculously bloomed at his passing! Wouldn't you love to have that superpower? Question for super detectives: take a good look around you. What objects do you think Francesco used when he was a child? A ball? A tablet? Or maybe something else? Now we head down Corso Mazzini. Get your legs ready because very soon we will arrive at the main square of Assisi, where there is an ancient temple that will leave you in awe!

Town Hall Square

Guys, here we are in the most important square of Assisi! It's like the city's living room, where people have been meeting, chatting, and playing for over 2000 years. Yes, you heard that right: 2000 years! This square existed long after the dinosaurs were extinct but well before computers, cars, or even the Margherita pizza! Look in the center: that's the Fountain of the Three Lions. It was built in 1762, but before that, there was an even older one. The three lions represent three very important things: faith, hope, and charity. Fun fact: even today, some of the elderly in Assisi come here with bottles to collect fresh water! It's like their public refrigerator! Now let's play a game: close your eyes and imagine this square in the Middle Ages. Can you hear the sounds? Merchants shouting to sell cloth and spices, horses trotting, children playing tag, just like you! If you carefully look at the shops around the square, you'll see artisan workshops where hand-painted ceramics are made. Some families have been working here for hundreds of years, passing down the craft secrets from father to son, like a secret recipe! If you could go back in time and visit this square in the Middle Ages, what would you like to see? And what would you bring from the future to amaze the people back then? Now let's cross the square towards that building with all those colorful crests: it's the Palazzo dei Priori, where the "mayors" of Assisi ruled in the Middle Ages!

Palace of the Priors: Where Councilors Were Entombed Alive!

Look at this magnificent palace! This is the Palazzo dei Priori, where the city leaders would convene during the Middle Ages. But do you know something really strange? When they had to elect the new rulers, the major electors were literally walled inside the palace! Yes, you heard correctly: they would close the doors and windows with bricks and cement until the decision was made! No bathroom breaks, no pizza delivery, no "Sorry Mom, I have to go home now"! They had to make a decision—plain and simple! Can you imagine if they did that when your class has to choose the destination for a school trip? Look at the pink stone with which it's built: it comes from Mount Subasio, the mountain you can see over there in the distance. At sunset, this stone turns golden, as if by magic! Try coming back here in the evening, and you'll see what a spectacle it is! Look up: do you see those "teeth" at the top of the palace? They're called "tail swallow battlements" and are V-shaped. They weren't just for making the building look pretty, but were extremely useful for the soldiers! They would hide behind the higher parts and spy or shoot arrows through the V-shaped gaps. They were like the "battle hideouts" of ancient times! Another amusing detail: do you see those chains hanging on the facade? In the Middle Ages, during important meetings, they would draw these chains across the entrance to stop horses, cows, and other animals from entering the palace and causing disturbances! It was their "limited traffic zone"! Imagine a horse walking into the council room while they’re deciding important matters: "Excuse me, does anyone have a carrot?" Inside this palace, there is a small museum with beautiful paintings, including works by Giotto, a super famous painter who painted like he was a filmmaker, but 700 years ago! And do you know what's beneath our feet? In the underground rooms, ancient Roman house remains have been found! It's like there's a secret hideaway of a Roman emperor beneath your home! If you were the Priors of Assisi for a day, what strange law would you introduce? Perhaps "free ice cream for all kids"? Or "homework only once a month"? Now let's turn left, and in just a few steps, we'll reach what looks like a Greek temple, but it's Roman: the Temple of Minerva!

Temple of Minerva: The Superstructure That Is 2000 Years Old!

Wow guys, look at this marvel! This temple was built more than 2000 years ago, when Roman emperors ruled the world! Do you know who Minerva was? She was the goddess of wisdom and intelligence, practically the goddess of kids who are good at school! Count those huge columns on the facade with me: one, two, three, four, five, six! They are almost 9 meters tall, like a three-story building! If you stacked yourselves on top of each other, it would take about five of you to reach the top! And imagine, they are made of incredibly heavy stone. How did they manage to put them there without cranes or trucks? The Romans were true engineering geniuses! Here's a super interesting fact: this temple has survived for 2000 years because instead of destroying it, the Christians turned it into a church! It's like if your house was transformed into a spaceship instead of being demolished. Clever, huh? Did you know that a famous German writer, a certain Goethe, was so impressed when he saw this temple about 250 years ago that he wrote in his diary: "It's the first ancient temple I see intact!" He was so excited he almost teared up! And do you know a secret? Inside it's completely different! While outside it looks like an ancient Roman temple, inside it's decorated in Baroque style, with lots of gilded and colorful ornaments. It's like the outside is a time machine to ancient Rome and the inside a time machine to the 1700s! According to a legend, beneath this temple there are secret passages where early Christians hid when they were persecuted. Imagine having to hold a secret meeting underground to avoid being discovered! Like in a spy movie! Okay explorers, now let's cross the square diagonally and look at that very tall tower standing next to the Palazzo dei Priori: it's the Tower of the People, and it has an incredible history!

Tower of the People: The Sentinel That Could Not Sleep!

Kids, look up! This tower is 47 meters tall! It's like stacking 25 kids on top of each other! It was built in 1305. Just think about it: Columbus hadn't yet discovered America, and pizza hadn't been invented! Do you know why this tower is so important? In the Middle Ages, the taller a city's tower was, the more powerful and respected the city. It was like a competition to see who had the tallest one! "Our tower is taller than yours, nanananana!" Look at how massive it is: its walls are over 2 meters thick! Can you imagine? It's like having to go through two refrigerators placed one after the other to enter! It was so robust because it had to withstand earthquakes, storms, and even enemy attacks! At the top of the tower, there was a giant bell called the "People's Bell." It was like the ringtone for the whole city! It rang to wake everyone up in the morning, to announce when the city gates would close in the evening, and to sound an alarm in case of danger. Once, it rang for three days and three nights without stopping during a revolt! What a deafening concert that must have been! Now let me tell you a funny thing: atop the tower, there was always a guard who had to watch for approaching enemies or fires breaking out in the city. But how did they ensure he didn't fall asleep during the night shift? He had to ring a bell every hour! If the bell didn't ring, other guards would rush up to check, and if they found him asleep... serious trouble! It was like when your mom checks to see if you're really doing your homework instead of playing! Look under the arch of the tower: do you see those strange lines etched into the stone? They are ancient units of measurement! The "passetto" and the "foot"! Before meters and centimeters existed, merchants used these measures to ensure no one got cheated when selling fabrics or other goods. If someone suspected foul play, they'd rush here to check: "Let's see if your meter is right or if it's shorter!"

San Rufino Cathedral: Where Francis and Clare Became Christians!

Here is the Duomo of San Rufino, the most important church in Assisi! Look at that fantastic façade with all those decorations! Do you see the large rose window in the center? It looks like a huge stone flower! And note those sculpted lions and griffins? They seem like the guardians of an enchanted castle! This church is super special for the history of Assisi because both Francis and Clare were baptized here! Yes, right here, in those ancient baptismal fonts you see inside. Imagine the scene: a little Francis crying as holy water is poured over his head, with all the relatives around! They didn't know that this child would become one of the most famous saints in the world! Fun fact: do you see the floor of the central nave? It slopes slightly towards the entrance! It's not a construction error; it was made on purpose! Do you know why? To clean the church, they would pour buckets of water from the altar, and it would naturally flow towards the exit! It was their automatic cleaning system, like a medieval vacuum-cleaning robot! Ingenious, right? Below the church, there is a mysterious crypt where the relics of St. Rufinus, the first bishop of Assisi who was martyred (meaning killed for being Christian) in the 3rd century, are kept. It is said that he was thrown into the river with a stone tied around his neck! What an adventurous and a bit scary story! Special question: if you could meet little Francis or little Clare when they were your age, what would you ask them? And what do you think they would want to know about our modern world? Now let's go out. Get ready because we are about to reach one of the most beautiful places in Assisi: the Plaza of the Basilica of St. Francis!

Upper Square of San Francesco: Where Magical Roses Bloom!

Guys, what a fantastic view! We've arrived at the Upper Square of St. Francis, which is like a gigantic balcony overlooking the valley! From here you can see the entire Umbria! On the clearest days, you can see very distant mountains. Who can count how many towns are visible from here? Did you know that this place once had a super scary name? It was called "Hill of Hell"! Not because there were ghosts or monsters, but because criminals were executed here. When Francis died, he specifically asked to be buried here, in the most despised place in the city! He wanted to be among the least, not the powerful. After he became a saint, the name was changed to "Hill of Paradise." From hell to paradise, what a transformation! Look at the structure of the Basilica: it seems like two churches stacked one on top of the other! And that's exactly how it is! There is the Lower Basilica, darker and more mysterious, and the Upper Basilica, full of light and colors. It's like a two-layer cake! A fun fact: the position of the Basilica, outside the walls of the medieval city, somewhat reflects the character of Francis. He was inside the Church but at the same time did revolutionary things, like talking to animals and embracing lepers that everyone avoided. He was in and out at the same time, you see? Do you know why this square is fantastic for concerts? It has a special acoustics! Try clapping your hands... do you hear how the sound echoes? It’s like a natural amphitheater! Wonderful concerts are held here during the summer, and the music spreads throughout the valley. Now look closely at the lawn: do you see those little roses? According to a legend, these roses are descendants of those planted by Francis in his home garden. And they have a superpower: they bloom all year round, even in winter when there is snow! Do you want to know how it happened? On a chilly January night, Francis passed by in prayer near the roses in his garden, and they suddenly bloomed! Since then, the roses of Assisi have never stopped blooming, not even in the coldest months! Are you ready for the last adventure? The Rocca Maggiore awaits us, the huge castle that overlooks all of Assisi from the top of the hill!

Rocca Maggiore: The Castle of Spies and Knights!

Here we are at the highest point of our adventure: the Rocca Maggiore! This enormous medieval castle dominates all of Assisi from its height of 505 meters. It's like being on top of 150 elephants stacked on top of each other! Do you know who built this castle? Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1174! His name was "Barbarossa" because he had a flaming red beard! Can you imagine an emperor with a carrot-colored beard ordering, "Build me a huge castle up there!"? Let's enter the inner courtyard... do you feel the wind blowing between the walls? Close your eyes: you can almost hear the clank of knights' armor, the neighing of horses, and the sentries' shouts! "Enemies in sight! Raise the drawbridge!" Let's explore this fantastic place! There are the casemates, where the soldiers slept (without TV, video games, or Wi-Fi, poor them!); the dungeons, where the bad guys were locked up; and the sentry walks, where the guards patrolled day and night watching for approaching enemies. An incredible story: nearby, in the battle between Assisi and Perugia in 1202, the young Francis was captured and imprisoned for almost a year! It was during that imprisonment that he began to think that perhaps being rich and famous wasn't as important as he had believed. Strange, isn't it? Sometimes the bad things that happen to us help us understand what is truly important! Exciting story: in 1442 there was a secret plot to conquer the Rocca! Some nobles from Assisi, tired of the Pope's rule, organized a plan to attack at night. But do you know who discovered them? A maid who eavesdropped on their plans and rushed to alert the commander! The conspirators were captured, while the maid received a reward for marriage. It's like a spy movie! From here we can see all of Assisi and trace with our eyes all the stages of our journey: the Basilica of Santa Chiara with its pink stones, the Piazza del Comune with the ancient Roman temple, the Cathedral where Francis was baptized, and the majestic Basilica of San Francesco! Thus concludes our adventure in Assisi, city of peace and magic, where a boy named Francis, more than 800 years ago, taught the world that true wealth lies in love and simplicity. Isn't that a wonderful lesson?