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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-11, Page 13Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - Page Al 3 Mv bit! fat Italian New Years or more of marvelous Italy This ?s the sec onic of a two-part letter from Italy. Staying in the Province of Umbria, located in • central Italy, enabled James and I to visit parts of neighbour- ing Tuscany as well as As- sisi, the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the slopes of Mt. Sub- asio, 424 metres above sea level, Assisi is not just a place to be seen ---it. must be experienced. It is burial place of St. Francis, Patron Saint of Animals, of the Environment and of Italy—the most famous native of this his- toric town. Dating from the Etruscans and Romans, Assisi has been fought over, captured, re- captured, torn by feuds, razed to the ground .and rose from its own ruins to thrive again. It was within this much -embattled city in 1182 that the beloved Catholic Saint, St. Francis of Assisi, was born. Francis (1182-1226), who renounced the wealth of his family and lived under a vow of poverty and humility, was canonized in 1228. The Basilica of St. Francis was first built in 1228 on the Saint's secret tomb. It con- sists of two churches, one on top of the other, both interiors ablaze with superb paintings by Italian masters. The crypt of St. Francis of Assisi imparts a hush and a reverence to visitors regardless of their belief or faith—clearly, it is a sacred place, far beneath the high alter of the lower church. • Towering over Assisi at the highest el- evation are two asymmetrical fortresses: the Rocca Maggiore and the Rocca Minore built in 1364-65 under orders of a Spanish cardinal sent by the Pope to impose military order to the territory --symbols of power over the people, the same power that Francis refused. These fine examples of medieval military architecture hold exhibitions of court life, armour, and weapons—and the panonna of Assisi and the valley below from the ram- parts is breathtaking. Daytrips to Siena and Cortona in Tuscany proved them to be just as rich in history and architecture as was Assisi. Cortona was made famous by the book and film "Under the Tuscan Sun" and is one of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany. Located 600 metres (2,100 feet) above sea level, Cortona's beautiful 13th century town hall and clock tower are on its central square, Piazza deila Republica. The magnificent Pi- azza del Campo that stands at the meeting point of Siena's three hills was the centre of town planning in the 12th century and con- tinues to be the city's hub of activity to this day. The Piazza del Campo is dominated by the Palazzo Sansedoni (1216) with its beautiful curved facade studded with pointed three - mullioned windows and its superb tower. Across from it is the magnificent Palazzo Pubblico, begun in '1250 and completed in 1310, with a 102 -metre high Torre del Man- gia towering above all below. Almost at the centre of the semi -circle of the Campo stands the unusual Gala Fountain (1409), comprised of many white sculptures exhibiting remarkable suppleness of curve and relief around a rectangular pool. We decided to visit Italy's most famous city on December 31. Rome—The Eternal City—is also a place to be experienced rather than simply seen. It began as a small village around 753 BCE comprising agrarian Italic peoples, for whom tribal customs and logic dominated. By the start of CE, Rome had grown to a small metropolis.. At the height of the Ro- man Empire, its population was about 1.5 million—today it is three million. Believing that to get to know a town, one must walk its streets, James and I started our mini Roman holiday on foot. Strolling the graceful Via Veneto, where the film La Dolce Vita was filmed, intro- duced us to Rome's personality, its cosmo- politan and sophisticated style, and its his- tory. Our first stop, the striking Triton Fountain in Barberini Square, was a precursor to the most famous of Rome's cascades: the incomparable Trevi Fouhtain. Reaching the su- perb semi -circular Trevi Fountain means descending steps, as it is sunk below ground level, which makes it even more dramatic. Water tumbles down a trio of ledges and rocks at the feet of Neptune, his sea - Photo contributed shell chariot and sea One of many narrow alleyways that can horses. Side statues of be experienced when visiting Rome. Abundance and Health complete this marvel- ous piece of water art, into which we, of course, threw coins. We then walked along the Tyber River to St. Peter's Square and the Vatican, pass- ing incredible archi- tecture, an ancient fort, and --believe it or not—an outdoor ice rink, with skaters trying out blades on ice with far too much loose "snow" on its surface. The Vatican City is magnificent, awe- inspiring, rand a trib- ute to ancient engi- neering. St. Peter's Square is huge—and was a very busy place on December 31. After a very expen- sive lunch near St. Peter's Square --I'll never complain about Canadian prices again --we boarded the Hop On -Hop Off bus for the rest of our tour of Rome. James and 1 sat atop an open double -deck - • l�%'r//y • Renovating, building or ►'tot need a fresh look? W// ir#'-.y/ru4( /rr.SrrdO�Y'4 „.4,., :,..• %r/h/%f /�Y Y/rai /0,0%.irY�i ji lib�%//%!/,4,. i e**siyfi'y,'9,t�'y, 00(0(Jyyi://,q0/ii%o/YNfb//h/ti//yy//// ///)%ilige /.f1Y/iY//i7 ffY.i//r /,//;*;/„iirrfii/ii/iY.o //his li4 ;',Y,1/40,00001,107//,,, •,,,,,44:4/450•~04;140110074/4.42,,44,4”, '/41,4YH.tSiLJ,SY44(rl6 Y;X: .:///4 W. //////ii%H�/i//h�,ii/iii r i,,i�/ y.; ,�// yY/4N.6Yi/lrz•/.f�fyyiGi✓ivr/ii/.iii, /0//.!/9//50//, ori qualit. w�rldow • coverts, oSsrli,;, .000,41540.00000.401 Himterpouglas Where comfort and style are foremost. l or your complimentary In-home consultation Pend tr Fit #1 tat i,, 519-524-5773 er bus and listened to historical commentary on headsets as we passed by ruins, palaces, a very metropolitan central train station, sculptures, and statues—all part of amazing Rome. The culmination of our tour was the mag- nificent Coliseum. Seen at any time, it is breathtaking—to come upon it at dusk was incomparable. A large stage was being set up for New Year's Eve entertainment in the shadow of the Coliseum. After touring the Coliseum area, James and I wound our way through brightly deco- rated streets back to Via Veneto where we enjoyed a light supper on an outdoor patio before heading. back to Perugia. At midnight, we threw open one of the windows of our apartment to toast the New Year with our hosts in the garden below, and to take in an unparalleled fire- works display that lit up the surrounding hills and night sky. r jto(1/0 }(1 ) )(it Bath Products % & Jewellery... (),(fi 1 40(�r Sweaters... now 40% Off! The Bayfield General Store (31' i1'. .01.10116. Getting the fundamentals right has never been more important Rk)P 2.009 Your professional financial advisor can help you understand today's market and provide the tools and information you need to plan prudently for your retirement. 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