My first visit to Umbria and the city of Assisi was back in 2017. A year before that, I had already caught a glimpse of the region. It was winter …

Tucked high in the forested slopes of Mount Subasio lies the Eremo delle Carceri, where Saint Francis and his companions retreated to pray and find solitude. Over time, the hermitage expanded with the growing Franciscan community, yet its peaceful spirit remains. Today, you can visit the site and step into the cave where Francis prayed and meditated.

Francesco died in 1226 and was canonized soon after. The very next day, Pope Gregory IX laid the first stone of the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi to honor the newly canonized saint. Adorned with frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue, it became a major site for pilgrims and art lovers. In 2000, UNESCO even named it a World Heritage Site for its cultural significance.