Assisi - A Pleasant Surprise

Assisi, Italy

Assisi - A Town full of Medieval Buildings

I have no idea why my husband wanted to go to Assisi. Since he is the one who knows a lot about history and geography, and the one planning our trip, I trust him and go wherever he has planned for us with a few suggestions form me here and there. His efforts have really paid off because everyday on this trip has been a wonderful and new experience for the both of us. Visiting Assisi was another example of a great pleasant surprise!

Train is a marvelous way of traveling in Europe. It is comfortable, convenient and often can be very inexpensive.  We traveled to Assisi from Florence by train at 13.50 Euro per person. What a great bargain! We could not even buy gas at that price!

13.50 Euro/ person to take the train from Florence to Assisi ( there is no bus to this city )






 The train left at 6:15pm and we arrived at the Assisi Train Sation around 8:30pm. This time we did not book a hotel in the old town because we wanted a change. Since we arrived in Europe, we stayed at hotels that were right in the old town or within short distance to the railway station. This time, we wanted to experience what the suburb was like in Italy. The taxi to the hotel was not a long ride and it cost about 10-11 Euro.

Outdoor dining area at our hotel

We were in the village Santa Maria deghli Angeli and stayed in the Hotel Frate Sole.  The village of SMA is the first Italian small modern town which is planned around  the highway.  All other towns and cities which we have stayed are old settlements which are geared for walking  S.M.A. is a town dominated by a huge church with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary on top.





Since it was about 9 ish p.m., we ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. I ordered risotto and Stan ordered pasta. The menu was all in Italian so we took a gamble, ordered our dish but not exactly sure what would be served to us. I always like risotto but this time both of our dishes were a little too salty for our taste.

Full of Activities at the Square in front of the Church

After dinner, we went out to explore the town. It was only a five minute walk from our hotel to the town square where the church located. In front of the church,  we found young people playing balls, kids running around while others were sitting and talking to friends. We did not think that the church would be open at this hour. But it was.

We went into the church and it was dark inside with only a few candle like fixtures lit on the walls. Most of the people were sitting silently in darkness. We saw some fervent worshipers praying in a special enclosed sanctuary in front of the alter. I went up and prayed at that sanctuary. Everyone was very quiet, being respectful at a place of worship.

We came out after a few minutes and strolled along the town streets. We saw lots of people relaxing and talking to their friends or families in the town square.  Families, young kids, young people in groups, pilgrims in robes walking around. I was surprised to find little kids running around, riding their bikes, following their  parents while their parents, grandparent and the whole family were relaxing in the park at well past 11:00p.m. at night.   I personally know a few Canadian parents who are really sticky about their children's bedtime being at a certain time, e.g. 8 or 9 p.m and they would not go anywhere because of this.)

 It was a nice picture of people enjoying a night out in a peaceful little town.

 
S.& R.T., Assisi, Italy
Aug. 2012