ITALY ~ Assisi - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful views of an exceptionally well-preserved medieval town... located on the rolling hills of Umbria... it was already a sacred place in Roman times but has been associated with Saint Francis since the 13thC... Assisi was his birthplace, and he founded the Franciscan religious order here in 1208.... a tranquil picturesque place dominated by the Franciscan Order and its many churches, monasteries, and other structures, among them the huge Basilica of San Francesco on the edge of town...  today, it is the second most important of Italy's pilgrimage sites after Rome... the pilgrims and most of the tourists come to Assisi for its religious monuments.... nuns and monks are a common sight on the streets... there are also plenty of crafts, souvenir, and local specialty shops... Thanks a lot Gian Luca and Raffaella! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Photo: Giorgio Filippini  Assisi is a medieval town in Umbria town on the western flank of Monte Subasio. It is an important place because of its art, its architecture and its history.

Assisi's history is thought to have begun in 1.000 BC, when it is believed to have first grown up as an Umbrian settlement. As a Roman colony, Assisi was known as Asisium. In the early 1500s, Assisi did once again come under the control of the Papacy. in 1860, the town became part of the newly created Kingdom of Italy.

In 1997, Assisi was struck by violent earthquakes. Its famous Basilica di San Francesco was damaged, while several frescoes in the basilica's vault were destroyed. Thanks to some rather rapid conservation work, it has largely been returned to its former glory, reopening to the public just two years after the event.

 Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites was made into a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000. The designated area also includes four Franciscan sites outside central Assisi: Le Carceri, San Damiano, Rivotorto and Santa Maria degli Angeli.

Stamp:

Matera - European Capital of Culture
(Issued 04-03-2019)