Attractions and Places To See around Valtopina - Top 20

Assisi With its world-famous city walls, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Assisi promises visitors a wealth of culture and history. Shopping and long walks in the old town are also part of Assisi's itinerary. Near Perugia, the capital of Umbria, lies Assisi. The birthplace and place of work of St. Francis and St. Clare, it is a city worth visiting, and not only because of its famous children. Assisi's medieval city center and city walls are so well preserved that they were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The city walls and the Basilica of San Francesco are therefore popular attractions for travelers. Founded by the Romans under the name Asisium, the terraced layout of the oldest Roman part of the city can still be seen today. The forum, an amphitheater, and the temples of the goddess Minerva (goddess of wisdom) are almost completely preserved. Text / Source: italien.de GmbH https://www.italien.de/staedte/assisi

It's hard to believe that 25 years ago, the earthquake here was so strong (two with magnitudes of 5.6 and 5.8) that 80,000 residents in the region were left homeless. The reconstruction of the old town was a magnificent feat.

For many visitors to Assisi, the more well-known destinations are probably the Holy Sepulchre Churches + of Saint Francis (see https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/7134144 ) and + of Saint Clara (see https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/2665025 ). However, these two churches are more recent (compared to this one). The ancient, venerable and original main church of the city and thus also of the diocese is of course the cathedral, the seat of the bishop. Francis and Clara also received the sacrament of baptism in this cathedral, dedicated to Saint RUFINO.

The town (Latin Asisium, older Italian/Tuscan Ascesi or Scesi, no longer in use today) was colonized by the Romans in 399 BC and built in terraces on a rocky ridge on the west side of Monte Subasio. It was previously an acropolis of the Umbrians. The city walls, the forum (or market square Piazza del Comune), a theater, an amphitheater and the Temple of Minerva, which was later converted into the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, can still be found from Roman times. In 328 the town was Christianized by the current patron saint Rufino di Assisi (San Rufino). In 545 the town was largely destroyed by the Ostrogoths, later came under the rule of the Lombards and was then placed under the control of the Dukes of Spoleto. In the 12th century, Assisi became a free commune and adopted a Ghibelline orientation, which was in contrast to the Guelph neighboring city of Perugia. Saint Francis of Assisi, who was born in Assisi in 1181/1182, was taken prisoner as a young man during these conflicts. In the 13th/14th centuries, the city expanded beyond the Roman city walls, and the walls were extended several times. In the late Middle Ages, Assisi was under the alternating rule of the popes, various condottieri, the dukes of Milan and Urbino, and finally returned to the Papal States in the 15th century. The city owes the fact that Assisi was saved from fighting and thus possibly from destruction in 1944 to the then commander of the German occupation troops, Colonel Valentin Müller, who was able to persuade the German commander in Italy, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, to declare Assisi an undefended, open hospital city. At the same time, Bishop Giuseppe Placido Nicolini and the Franciscan Rufino Niccacci, with helpers from the Catholic Church, organized the hiding of politically and racially persecuted people, including many Jews, in monasteries and other church buildings.

Medieval historians refer to this place as that of a Roman temple dedicated to the Bona Mater. Saint Peter Damian wrote that on this site there was a basilica containing the remains of Saint Rufinus, dating back to 412, and that Bishop Hugo (11th century) was at odds with the people because he wanted to take it to the then Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore with the victory of the citizens of Assisi. In the feudal city, the church of San Rufino was the fulcrum of the "citadel of the canons" and the foundation of the current church probably dates back to the eighth century. It was rebuilt for the first time in a larger form by Hugo himself, who gave it the title of cathedral in 1036. In 1140 a new reconstruction was started, based on a project by Giovanni da Gubbio, which lasted several decades. In 1210, the community, which used the churchyard for meetings, hoped for a speedy completion, attributing to the unfinished building the bad luck that animated the fighting between the factions. In 1228, the high altar was consecrated by Pope Gregory IX and in 1253 the entire church was consecrated by Innocent IV. In 1571, the interior of the cathedral was renovated according to a design by Galeazzo Alessi and took on its current form.

Assisi is located about 19 km southeast of the regional and provincial capital Perugia. The districts include Armenzano, Capodacqua, Castelnuovo, Palazzo, Petrignano, Pianello, Rivotorto, Santa Maria degli Angeli, San Vitale, Sterpeto, Torchiagina, Tordandrea and Tordibetto. The neighboring municipalities are Bastia Umbra, Bettona, Cannara, Nocera Umbra, Perugia, Spello, Valfabbrica and Valtopina.

Assisi is a beautiful place near Perugia and worth a visit.

The Basilica of San Francesco, which did not exist during the lifetime of Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/82 to 1226), is nevertheless one of the great "original shrines" of the Franciscan religious family, and a "must" for every Assisi resident. Visitors. As the church of the order's founder, it is of course very important spiritually - which is expressed, among other things, by the rare title of "Basilica major" (papal basilica); but then also in terms of art history, especially because of the great frescoes in the lower and upper churches (in the latter in particular the cycle with 28 pictures from the life of Saint Francis by Giotto Bondone). This important place of worship is therefore quite rightly on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Saint Francis (canonized in 1228, just two years after his death) became a role model for many people, they joined him, and the "Order of the Friars Minor" (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) of Francis of Assisi was created. Today there are three male branches in the broad Franciscan religious family: the Franciscans, the Minorites and the Capuchins; as well as two female ones: the Franciscan Sisters and the Poor Clares. In addition, there is the “Third” or “Secular” Order, which can be joined by women and men who do not take the classic religious vows (poverty, chastity and obedience) and continue to live in their family and their profession.