Assisi

 

Not a bad view for a week.

My yoga studio complete with a picnic blanket for a mat and chairs to hold down the corners from flapping in the breeze.

A room with a view.

A walk into town at night.

Basilica di Santa Chiara

A cute house we often passed on our way up the hill into town.

Parco Regina Margherita

We had this gelato when our taste was at its lowest point. It was pistachios, whole black cherries, black cherry sauce, pistachio ice cream and vanilla cream with whipped cream and chocolate decoration. The textures were amazing and what we could taste was great.

Piazza del Comune

Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi

Because Assisi is on a hill it was pretty common to see restaurant tables propped up on these little platforms on steps or steep alleyways.

My office. It was too hot and sunny to work out there most of the time, but it was nice in the morning and evenings. Seen here with my typical breakfast of yogurt and peach juice, both of which are excellent in Italy.

A neighborhood cat that spent a lot of time sunning on our deck. We named him Francis (but I overheard someone call him Ernesto). He always looked a little disheveled, but he was a very sweet boy. 

Chiesa Nuova di San Francesco Convertito

View of Assisi from our hike up to Rocca Maggiore, a fortress at the highest point in Assisi.

A very sweet kitty we met on our walk/hike up to the top of the city, who immediately jumped in my lap and was ready to settle in for the night.

Tristan relaxing in our cute apartment.

Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi

The frescos are absolutely incredible inside but you aren't allowed to take photos so this is a photo I found from Michelangelo Buonarroti.

View of the countryside from Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi.

View from bosco di San Francesco.

Bosco (forest) di San Francesco

Piazza Santa Chiara

The fruit here is delicious. The oranges are my favorite. I try to eat one every day.

Assisi was our first longer stay in Italy which allowed us settle down and get to know a place while I worked during the day. True to its motto as the city of peace, Assisi provided us with a very relaxing stay. Lots of afternoon naps were had to help us regain our strength. When we did venture out, our place was towards the bottom of the hill so to reach the main street we first had to walk up at least one hundred steps. And to think I was worried about getting my exercise with the lack of yoga studios in Italy.

For food, at first we didn't have much of an appetite but it came back after a few days along with our taste. Alongside the quintessential Italian staples of pasta, pizza, and caprese salads we've been enjoying lots of fruit, cheese, yogurt, and juice. Fruit and cheese is a complete meal, right? Our favorite pasticceria was Dolcemio Tiramisu which featured 14 flavors of tiramisu. While we didn't try them all, we tried many and very much enjoyed practicing our Italian with the very kind couple that owned it.

The highlights of Assisi were the colorful frescoes of Basilica di San Francesco, enjoying nature in the city park and Franciscan woods, and how every corner seemed to offer picturesque views and charming alleyways. And of course, Francesco the cat and the many other sweet cats we met on our walks. When we were in for the night, our place came with a great little library so most nights I would tuck myself in with a children's book in Italian followed by relaxing with an art book. Grazie Assisi.

Next we are off to an even smaller town, Cortona, about an hour away by train where we will say goodbye to Umbria and hello to Tuscany.