Assisi

Today we visited Assisi, the hometown of St Francis. The old town is on the top of the hill and the newer areas are below it.

 

 

We first stopped at Santa Maria degli Angeli church in the newer part of town.

 

 

Then went up to the old town.

 

 

 

 

We toured the Basilica of St Francis but unfortunately no photographs were allowed inside. So here are some exterior shots that I took. The interior shots are from post cards.

 

 

 

Here are the post cards.

 

 

 

 

This is my favorite scene. The guide said there are many paintings of the Last Supper but this is the only one that shows the cleanup crew (look in the lower left hand corner).

 

 

We spent the late afternoon with a local farmer, Sergio, and his specially-trained dog, Rocko, hunting for one of the area's specialties: the truffle.

 

 

Truffles form symbiotic relationships with the roots of several tree species including birch, poplar, oak, and beech trees. 30 years ago Sergio planted trees whose roots had been innoculated with the truffle spores. Rocko has been in training for 18 months to find them. When he smells one he starts to dig it up. Sergio has to get to the truffle before Rocko eats it.

 

 

Members of our group kept an eye on Rocko's progress.

 

 

He is very good at his job.

 

 

We all returned to Sergio's house where his wife, Eva, and two friends made a multi-dish meal for us featuring the truffles. Afterward they entertained us with a few rousing Italian songs.

 

 

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