Assisi, a town made of stone. Assisi, which gives voice to the stones. What seems to be an inanimate object actually hides many stories waiting to be discovered. Just follow the “stone spheres” along a route that tells the story of the main UNESCO sites: 14 new perspectives regarding the Seraphic Town and its villages.
The “Speaking Stones” is a physical and digital experience, with 14 stone spheres placed near the UNESCO sites, which allow visitors to listen to stories about the town that have never told before. How? By activating the user’s smartphone and giving access to audio, video and image content that will let them discover Assisi in a different light. But it is not just a walk or an itinerary; rather, it is an emotional journey, where the visitor can accept the invitation to interact with the stones, without a beginning or an end. The map of the locations describes the possibilities for making discoveries freely and without any logical restrictions, other than that of planning your stay.
The project will become active autumn 2024, characterizing the 14 UNESCO sites in Assisi.
The Papal Basilica of Saint Francis is one of the spiritual places best known and most visited in Assisi. Located in the town’s historic center, this extraordinary Franciscan complex consists of two churches, one on top of the other: the Lower Church, which holds the Saint’s remains, and the Upper Church, where you can admire works by great artists such as Cimabue and Giotto.
Located in the center of town city, the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli majestically and impressively dominates the entire plain. Inside it is the Porziuncola, the small church where Saint Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor. Thousands of the faithful come here every year to receive the indulgence, or forgiveness of all sins.
Built with the typical white and pink stone of Mt. Subasio, the Basilica of Saint Clare stands over the foundations of an older church connected with the life of Saint Clare. Preserved here inside the crypt are the relics of the two saints who left a significant mark on the history of Assisi: Saint Clare and Saint Francis.
Piazza del Comune, one of the most important sites in Assisi historically and culturally, includes two fascinating UNESCO sites: the Temple of Minerva, an extraordinary legacy from the Roman era, and the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo and its civic tower, a magnificent building from the medieval period.
Built with three floors, the Palazzo del Capitano del Perdono is an extraordinary testimony of the Renaissance style in Assisi. The ground floor has an elegant portico, and on the upper floors there is a charming loggia overlooking the square. Today, the Palazzo offers information services and is a venue for art shows and exhibitions.
Home to the Medieval Museum, the Rocca Maggiore is one of Assisi’s most representative monuments. Built on the top of the Asio hill, this ancient defensive bastion proudly dominates over the town, offering a magnificent view of the valley. Inside you can admire its large rooms decorated with historical coats of arms, a symbol of the grandeur of Assisi during the Middle Ages.
Made with the typical limestone of Mt. Subasio, the Rocca Minore is an extraordinary example of a medieval fortress built to defend the ancient town. Consisting of a spacious courtyard surrounded by strong walls and characterized by a tall tower, inside there is a small chapel dedicated to the Crucifix, decorated with a fresco by Matteo da Gualdo.
Built in the upper part of the town of Assisi, the Cathedral of San Rufino is one of the most significant examples of Romanesque architecture in Umbria. Underneath the church are the crypt of Bishop Hugo, the cloister with the well and the remains of the ancient Roman cistern. The façade is richly decorated with flower motifs. The Cathedral of San Rufino contains the remains of St. Rufinus, martyr and patron saint of Assisi.
The Abbey of San Pietro, a fascinating example of Romanesque architecture, is a sober building with a nave and side aisles built near Porta San Francesco. Characterized by a central portal flanked by two statues of lions, inside it has canvases, frescoes and neo-Gothic style tombs.
The Chiesa Nuova (New Church), one of the few examples of 17th-century religious architecture in Assisi, is a spiritual place with strong ties to the life of Saint Francis. According to tradition, the Church was built over the remains of the old house of Francis’s father. Inside there are extraordinary 17th-century frescoes and bronze statues of Francis’s parents.
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built over the ancient Roman House of Propertius, is the sacred place where Saint Francis renounced his earthly goods before his father and the bishop. The Sanctuary has evocative 14th- and 15th-century decorations and holds the body of the young Carlo Acutis, beatified by Cardinal Agostino Vallini on October 10, 2020.
The Sanctuary of San Damiano is one of the spiritual places where Saint Clare and Saint Francis experienced some of the most important moments of their consecrated life. Here Saint Clare drove out the Saracen troops and founded the Order of the Poor Clares, and Francis wrote the “Canticle of the Creatures.” Inside, the walls of the church are decorated with several 16th-century frescoes.
The Sanctuary of Rivotorto is an imposing, majestic religious building dedicated to the Virgin Mary, built to protect the sacred hovel of Saint Francis. The façade is made from the pink stone of Mt. Subasio and is decorated with a mosaic dedicated to the Saint. Inside, twelve 17th-century canvases depict episodes of the first Franciscan community in Rivotorto.
Set on the southern slope of Mt. Subasio, the Eremo delle Carceri is a fascinating hermitage immersed in the greenery of a holm oak wood. Visiting the monastery you can see the places where Saint Francis and his Franciscan companions lived for centuries in direct contact with nature: from the ancient cloisters to the frescoed chapels, the natural caves and the paths winding through the woods.
