Travelled to Assisi on Sunday where we attended a very welcoming Eucharistic service at the Anglican Church at St. Leonard’s. The service  was focused around love and peace since it was Remembrance Sunday- the 101st anniversary of Armistice Day ending WWI. We sang the St. Francis Prayer as one of the hymns- one of my very favorites…

After a delicious lunch I visited the crypt where St. Francis is interred. It was busy with photo taking tourists at first, but when they left I could feel the incredible spirit of St. Francis and the place. I then wandered through the city and grounds by myself… peaceful and wonderful, even amongst the tourists.

On our way to the concert…

Early evening we had the incredible opportunity to enjoy and savor a sacred music concert by Libercantus, in a small church in Assisi. They were absolutely incredible… each day we keep receiving such special “gifts” on this Sacred Umbria tour.

 

On Monday we travelled to the region of Marche to the Monastery of Fonte Avellana. The drive to the monastery through the Appenines was breath taking- sheer rock cliffs, fall foliage… amazing landscape. We also had to share the road with some friendly cows!

The monastery was built between the 10th and 12th century and had one of the most famous scriptoriums of Europe during that period. Was interesting to learn that there were two “classes” of monks during that time- the intellectuals who could read and write the sacred texts, and the laborers who did other jobs in the monastery. Hmmm… class system even in the monastery.

The scriptorium with lots of windows to light the room for the scribes.

View from the monastery

Stopped in Gubbio for lunch on our way back to Civitella- an incredible lunch at a famous geologic site ( Osteria del Bottaccione) where they have found evidence of the meteor hitting the earth when the dinosaurs became extinct.

Our delightful chef at the restaurant… they treated us soooo well!

After numerous courses we finished with “holy” wine, biscottis, and other treats.