Assisi pilgrimage

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seanie

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Hi all,

I am going to Assisi in July for 4 days (can’t wait!!) and wonder if anyone has been there and have any tips on what to do and see apart from the basilicas, the Portiuncula etc? Also is there a possibility to get Eucharistic Adoration?

God bless
Seanie
 
I just went there!!! It is the most beautiful, well one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to! I was only there for one day so all we saw were the basillicas but there are lots of places to shop. And it’s very hilly. Have a great trip!
 
One of my favorite place was the tiny church of St Stephen. It is sort of hidden away off the main roads. Very romanesque, very simple.

Just walk around, there is so much to see. I spent a week there. Make sure you go up the mountain to the hermitage. There is a friary up there. It’s a long steep walk but you can take a cab up to the top.
 
It is fantastic!

To do:
  1. See the Porziuncola–down the hill
  2. See the lower church (Francis’s tomb)
  3. See the upper church
  4. See St Clare’s Church (Crucifix of San Damiano is there–or was)
  5. Eat at Buca di San Antonio
  6. Drink Orvietto and all the local Italian wines
  7. Try the truffle risotto (even though truffles are out of season now)–get the one that has porcini, too…truffles by themselves are a tad bland, IMHO.
  8. Walk the city. Great exercise, and gives you a fantastic taste of the local flavor
  9. Have a cafe corretto (espresso with a shot of hard liquor–usually brandy)
  10. Please, please take pictures and consider sharing a few here.
  11. If you get up a bit early (6:30AM, IIRC) , you can chant Lauds with the friars.
  12. Lucky you!😃
EDIT: Forgot one: if you get to Francis’ tomb at the right time (when they change candles), the friars give the used ones (about 1/2 used) to a few lucky people. We have 2 of them 🙂
 
I was there last Christmas. I will just tell you the basics.

Go to the Porziuncola and get the plenary indulgence. Say an Our Father and a Creed inside the chapel of the Porziuncola along with an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the Pope, You should go to confession and communion.

Offer your intentions in the Porziuncola because St. Francis said in his *Admonitions *that whatever one would ask in there would be granted. The Porziuncola is a Marian shrine. Seek the intercession of Our Lady of the Angels. Say the Rosary while walking down the hill to the Porziuncola (a long walk) and/or say the rosary at the Porziuncola.

Visit
  • The Cathedral of San Rufino
  • The Basilica of St. Clare and see her body and the original San Damiano crucifix
  • The Church of San Damiano
    -The Sanctuary of the Carceri (take a Taxi up because it is a climb)
  • The Church in the Piazza Commune
  • The Oratory of the birthplace of St. Francis
  • Chiesa Nuova where St. Francis was born, lived and got locked up by his father
  • Visit Peter Bernadone’s shop (The shop of the father of St. Francis)
  • Santa Maria Maggiore which is near the house of the bishop of Assisi (who I met when I went to Assisi)
  • The Basilica of St. Francis and the tomb. Offer a candle in the tomb for a donation.
Well there is a lot more but you can explore further.

I highly suggest you visit the Franciscan Shrine of the Nativity in Greccio where St. Francis made the first nativity scene. Pray at the grotto there. This shrine is 2 hours away from Assisi by car or bus.

There are so many shops that sell religious items. Make sure you get a rosary from the Porziuncola because it is a Marian shrine and get a relic of soil from the Porziuncola. Get a relic of soil from the tomb of St. Francis at the basilica of St. Francis. Go to the leather shop if you want leather goods. Get a Tau Cross too.

There is one restaurant (which I forgot the name of but you can look for the menu on display at the window) that is near the Basilica of Santa Chiara (St. Clare) which has a complete tourist meal for 14 Euro. This does not include the drink though. With a Coca Cola, I spent 16 Euro on a meal at that restaurant. Tips were include as a service fee.

Eucharistic Adoration at the Porziuncola during the Summer season is scheduled on weekdays at 5:30 PM and during the Winter, adoration is at 5PM.
Vespers and Eucharistic Adoration is held on Thursdays at the Porziuncola at 7PM.

You should attend the rosary and candlelight procession at the Porziuncola which takes place on Saturdays at 9:15 PM.

For the full schedule see porziuncola.org/attivita/info.php?l=en.
 
Assisi is beautiful. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit it this past summer, though unfortunately I was only able to spend several hours there (certainly not enough time). One warning I will give you, Assisi is a seemingly endless series of steep hills. So take your time because they can be hard on the legs. This heads up is coming from someone who is young and physically active by the way, so I’m serious when I say it can be tiring going from one site to another in Assisi.

With that said, I’m sure you’ll have a blast. 🙂 I would love to go back there one day and be able to spend a couple days there so that I could take my time and really enjoy all the city of Saints Francis and Clare has to offer.
 
I lost about 5 lbs during my week in Assisi just from walking the streets…and I ate a lot, especially gelato. Oh, make sure you wear really good walking shoes as many of the streets are cobblestone and the hills are steep.
 
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