Follow the Ringenberg Road: Assisi and Rome

Up to Assisi

October 21-22, 2015

Assisi and Rome

Basilica of St Francis

We arrived in Rome safely last evening after stopping off in Assisi and spending the day. What a charming and quaint little town. It is perched high on a hill right outside the town of Santa Maria Degli Angeli where the train arrives. We stored our bags and took a bus up to the first stop and walked around the town, mostly up, the rest of the way. The main place to see is the Basilica of St Francis, a huge complex including several areas of worship that overlooks the town below. There are several other churches to see but none near as interesting or imposing as the Basilica. It is really quite stunning. The town, with its cobble-stone streets, has been very well preserved and well kept. The houses are built of stone/brick which often have wrought-iron ornamentation and carved doors. The streets are very narrow but they have a great bus system set-up for a town that small. It reminds one of a something you see in a fairy tale. If you are considering a trip to Italy, try to put Assisi on your list of places to visit.

We then hopped on the next train to Rome and arrived about 6:30 p.m. On the train we met a couple from Ann Arbor, who were touring around Italy for several days. They had just come from Florence, also. Interesting to share experiences.

We arrived at our Airbnb site, which is fairly close to the train station. It’s completely different from where we stayed in Florence, but it is in a convenient location and has a great bed and Wi-Fi. Important things first, you know. It’s on the sixth floor, but has a lift. We unpacked and went out to find a grocery to get some breakfast and lunch food and pick up a bite to eat. Nothing too spectacular, just a panini and a slice of pizza which we shared. Very good!

Today, we spent touring the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill. My goodness, when those wealthy Romans built things, they didn’t do things small. The places are all huge! As far as ruins, they are in remarkably good shape, considering many of them are from before the time of Christ. We walked and walked, and walked and, did I say, walked!

It’s interesting to think that this is the city to whom Paul wrote his most theological epistle, the city from which he wrote the Prison epistles and 2 Timothy, and from where Peter and Paul were both imprisoned and killed. It’s also the city from which the emperors ruled the Roman world. The various emperor palace ruins are outlandishly huge. Think Donald Trump in overdrive.

Outside the Colosseum

Since where we are staying isn’t too far from all those sites, we walked to and from. On the way back, we stopped at a little bakery/restaurant and ate some of the best food we’ve had here. We wanted to try some different things, so we had suppli (fried rice balls with tomato sauce and cheese) which were yummy and some, fresh out of the oven, focaccia-type bread that they use to make pizza. You can just eat it plain. It was so very moreish! We tried several other things, too, but those stood out.

Inside the Colosseum

By that time, we needed to rest the feet, so we went back to our room, rested and then walked to the local COOP store to get some food for tomorrow. Thus ends our day.