Colby in Italy, Day 3: The Wheels on the Bus go round and round and round...

Nine in the morning and all seventy-two of us were mobilized out of the Oasi San Giuseppi, Rome, and back into the bus for a four-hour trip to Florence in the province of Toscana. The fact that we weren't allowed to check into our rooms until the afternoon prompted the powers that be to schedule a stopover in the small town of Assisi, which happened to lie along our way, to see two of Italy's most famous religious landmarks: the churches of Santa Maria dell' Angeli and San Francesco d' Assisi. St. Francis was an Italian of noble blood who renounced riches and became a monk in the first half of the twelfth century, becoming famous for his philanthropic work and famous sermons--some to humans, others to animals, even. During his lifetime, he restored a small 4th century church in the small hamlet of Assisi, below the mountain; later, an Italian architect of the Baroque period built around this tiny stone church a massive cathedral, which became Santa Maria dell' Angeli. In the years following the death of St. Francis, two basilica were built to commemorate him; the first, which was older, was built above his tomb, while the second was erected several years later and connected by a stairway to the original basilica below. We didn't get much time there, unfortunately, but were shuffled in and very quickly out, as we were late for Florence. It was a tiring day, certainly, but it's past; now, we ready ourselves for two concerts and extensive exploration of this magnificent italian city.

Canaan