Assisi - Basilica of St. Clare, La Lanterna, and Rocca Maggiore

We walked down to the Basilica of St. Clare which is dedicated to the founder of the Order of Poor Clares. 

Basilica of St. Clare

Looking at the Main Altar

On the right side of the church there is a small Chapel of the Crucifix of San Damiano. This is the wooden crucifix that changed Francis' life. In 1206, St. Francis knelt before this crucifix (then located in the Church of San Damiano) and asked for guidance. The crucifix spoke: "Go and rebuild my Church, which you can see has fallen into ruin." Francis followed the call. 

Chapel of the Crucifix of San Damiano

There are stairs that lead from the nave down to the tomb of St. Clare. There is also a new area down here that has all the important relics: the saints robes, hair, and a tunic that St Clare made, and relics of St. Francis. 

Relics of St. Francis and St. Clare

Entrance into St. Clare's tomb

St. Clare's tomb

 Here are some fun facts for you: Spanish-speaking Franciscans settled in California. Three of their missions grew into major cities: Los Angeles (named after the lower Assisi church - St. Mary of the Angels), San Francisco (named after St. Francis), and Santa Clara (named after St. Clare). 

typical Marian shrine on buildings

Assisi is so beautiful. I could take pictures of the streets all day long.

We walked around for a little while to find a place for dinner. We came upon this cute restaurant called La Lanterna. It had a great menu that even my pick eater was happy with. 

The entrance to La Lanterna - isn't it soo cute? 

The people that live above the restaurant must be doing laundry!

The weather was nice enough that we ate outside. It did start to rain a
little but we managed to stay dry. 

We decided to walk UP and work off some of our dinner!

It's amazing how fast you get so high! K tried to convince us to let her
stay on the wall until we came down...didn't work! 

On our way up to Rocca Maggiore - a 14th century fortification.

Rocca Maggiore - when I was here in college you could just climb all over the walls and I remember there was a dark cave inside to get to the other side. Now they close it at 5pm and you have to pay to enter!

San Rufino is on the left and St. Clare's is on the right

We are in ASSISI!!

The view on the other side. We ran into a few college groups here for the Canonization - one from John Paul the Great and their leader went to our college. Only in a place like this you are bound to run into someone.

Walking back down we saw this yard..Grandpa C would be proud of this! I think its the best lawn I have seen in Europe! They even had a sprinkler watering the grass. 

We walked back to our hotel room to catch the sunset...it was beautiful!!!

I put T and L to bed and Joe went out walking with K at night. They went around taking pictures of the sights again. 

Goodnight Assisi!