ASSISI (anc. Asisium)

This article appears in Volume V02, Page 782 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: ARN-AUD

ASSISI (anc. Asisium) , a town and episcopal see of Umbria, Italy, in the province of Perugia, 15 M. E.S.E. by rail from the town of Perugia. Pop. (1901) town, 5338; commune, 17,240. The town occupies a fine position on a mountain (134.5 ft. above sea-level) with a view over the valleys of the Tiber and Topino. It is mainly famous in connexion with St Francis, who was born here in 1182, and returned to die in 1226. The Franciscan monastery and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253, being fine specimens of

Gothic

GOTHIC

architecture. The crypt was added in 1818, when the sarcophagus containing his remains was discovered. The lower church contains frescoes by Cimabue, Giotto and others, the most famous of which are those over the high altar by Giotto, illustrating the vows of the Franciscan order; while the upper church has frescoes representing scenes from the life of St Francis (probably by Giotto and his con-temporaries) on the lower portion of the walls of the

nave

NAVE

, and scenes from Old and New Testament history by pupils of Cimabue on the upper. The church of Santa Chiara (St Clare), the foundress of the Poor Clares, with its massive lateral buttresses, fine rose-window, and simple

Gothic

GOTHIC

interior, was begun in 1257, four years after her death. It contains the tomb of the saint and 13th-century frescoes and pictures. Santa Maria

Maggiore

MAGGIORE, LAGO (Lacus Verbanus of the Romans; Fr. Lac Majeur; Ger. Langensee)

is also a good Gothic church. The cathedral (San Rufino) has a fine facade with three rose-windows of 1140; the interior was modernized in 1572. The town is dominated by the. medieval castle (1655 ft.), built by CardinalAlbornoz (1367) and added to by Popes Pius II. and Paul III. Two miles to the

east

EAST
EAST, ALFRED (1849- )

in a ravine below Monte Subasio is the hermitage delle Carceri (2300 ft.), partly built, partly cut out of the solid rock, given to St Francis by

Benedictine

BENEDICTINE

monks as a place of retirement. Below the town to the south-west, close to the station, is the large

pilgrimage

PILGRIMAGE (Fr. pelerinage, Lat. peregrinatio)

church of Santa Maria degli Angell, begun in 1569 by Pope Pius V., with Vignola as architect; but not completed until 1640. It contains the

original

ORIGINAL

oratory of St Francis and the cell in which he died. Adjacent is the garden in which the saint's thornless roses bloom in May. Half a mile outside the town to the south-

east

EAST
EAST, ALFRED (1849- )

is the convent of San Damian, erected by St Francis, of which St Clare was first abbess.
In the early middle ages Assisi was subject to the dukes of Spoleto; but in the 11th century it seems to have been independent. It became involved, however, in the disputes of Guelphs and Ghibellines, and was frequently at war with Perugia. It was sacked by Perugia and the papal troops in 1442, and even after that continued to be the prey of factions. The place is now famous as a resort of pilgrims, and is also important for the history of Italian art. The poet Metastasio was born here in 1688.
See L.

Duff

DUFF, ALEXANDER (1806-1878)

-Gordon, Assisi (" Mediaeval Towns "

series

SERIES (a Latin word from serere, to join)

, London, 1900). For ancient history see Asisium. (T. As.)

End of Article: ASSISI (anc. Asisium)

If you wish, you can link directly to this article.

<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/ARN_AUD/ASSISI_anc_Asisium_.html">
ASSISI (anc. Asisium)
</a>

(Previous)
ASSISE (from the Fr., derived from Lat. assider...

(Next)
ASSIUT, or SLUT

JCSM was founded in 1997 and exists to help the community and bring people into a life-changing and productive relationship with Jesus Christ. JCSM offers over 200,000 free web pages, including its weekly inspirational emails that were sent continuously for over a decade.

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
1-888-887-0417 or Email