ASSISI Around 1000 BC some immigrants settled near Assisi and were called Umbrians. From 450 BC these settlements were gradually taken over by the Etruscans. The Romans took control of central Italy in 295 BC. In Assisi there are still some Roman ruins such as the Temple of Minerva that now is a church. In 238 AD Assisi was converted to Christianity by bishop Rufino and his remains rest in the Cathedral Church of San Rufino in Assisi. After the Romans, the Ostrogoths, the Lombards and the Frankish ruled. Assisi became an independent council in the 11th century. There were a lot of wars between Assisi and Perugia at that time, and in one of these battles Francesco (St. Francis) was imprisoned by the soldier of Perugia. Later the city was under the rule of the Pope. BASILICA OF SAINT CLARE The Basilica of Saint Clare is a church dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi and it contains her remains. She founded the Order of the Poor Ladies or Order of Saint Clare and died in 1253. The construction of the church dates back to 1257. Clare's tomb was found in 1850. The feast of St. Clare is celebrated throughout the Church on 11th August. BASILICA OF SAINT FRANCIS The basilica, which was begun in 1228, is built into the side of a hill and comprises the Upper Church, Lower Church, and a crypt where the remains of Saint Francis are. The Upper and Lower Churches are decorated with frescoes by medieval important painters such as Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti. The façade of the Upper Church has a portal in Gothic style with twin doors and a beautiful rose window. The interior is an important example of the Gothic style in Italy. The most important decorations are the series of 28 frescoes ascribed to the young Giotto. The frescoes tell the story of the life of Saint Francis and were probably painted between 1296 and 1304. The Lower Church consists of a central nave with several side chapels with semi-circular arches which are connected by a low blue- 

painted ceiling decorated with golden stars. The nave is decorated with the oldest frescoes in the church. In the crypt there is the stone coffin of Saint Francis. This burial place of St. Francis was found only in 1818 because his remains were put in a secret place by a friar to prevent the spread of his relics in medieval Europe. BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI The basilica was built in the mannerist style between 1569 and 1679. It has a rectangular ground plan, divided into a central nave and two lateral aisles, with ten side chapels, a transept and a choir. The church is 126 meters long, 65 meters large and the dome is 75 meters high. Inside this church there is the Porziuncola that is a little church of the 9th century. In this little church Francis of Assisi decided to give up the world of rich people to live in poverty among the poor and here he started the Franciscan movement. The transito The Cappella del Transito is the small room where St. Francis died 3rd October 1226. It was a little hut used for ill people. The Rose Garden The rose garden is the last remains of the ancient wood in which St Francis and his friars lived. Here he talked to the doves, inviting them to praise the Lord. Doves have been nesting since a long time in the hands of the statue of St. Francis in this rose garden. According to tradition, one night St. Francis, feeling the temptation to abandon his way of life, rolled naked in the bramble thorns. In contact with his body, the bramble bushes turned into dog roses (rosa canina) without thorns. Since then, these flowers are here in this garden. Bifora or windows with two lights is the symbol of humanity and divinity. Trifora or window with three lights is the symbol of the Trinity (The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). Rose window is the symbol of Christ.