Assisi: that most beautiful and holy city

In American History, following a sermon on a boat over from England to America, a protestant pastor and preacher referred to America as a "city on a hill." The term stuck, and in many ways it is has proved true: America's rule of law, its generosity, and the warmth and friendliness of its people have served as a beacon of hope to many.

Yet, over here in Europe, there is another city on a hill, a little less well known, but significant nonetheless: Assisi, Italy.

Assisi is one of those places that should be on everyone's bucket list of things to do before they die. It is referred to by many pilgrims as the "most peaceful place on earth." Indeed, the silence of the Francis' hermitage, the solemnity of his burial tomb, the majesty of the San Damiano cross that spoke to Francis, and the simplicity of the convent of St. Clare, all lend Assisi to be a city on a hill in its own right. It is not a city of democracy, but a city of peace and of holiness. It is from here that Francis had his conversion and went to re-evangelize Europe spreading his way of poverty and of conversion.

Assisi is also a city on a hill in a aesthetic sense: the olive groves, the cobblestone streets, the smiles of the local vendors, the rose colored Umbrian rock and the fruited plains all give Assisi a an old word charm that is both distinctive and inviting.

Below are some pictures from our latest visit to this "city on a hill":

Rome at Night

There are few places as romantic or as exciting as Rome in the evening. There are all the quaint pizzerias, the classy wine bars, the fountains, and of course the beautiful Basilicas seem to make one lose track of time. Following in the students' steps, one can perhaps live a little vicariously through them--enjoying the sights and at least imagining the sensations of Rome at night:

One of the prettiest places on Earth....

After having travelled throughout Europe, I must admit one of the most enjoyable--and beautiful--places I have visited is Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the Liguriaregion of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages:Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

A walking trail, known as Sentiero Azzurro ("Light Blue Trail"), connects the five villages. The trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell'Amore ("Love Walk") and varies in difficulty from an easy stroll to a rough and physically challenging hike. The stretch from Manarola to Corniglia is the easiest to hike, although the main trail into Corniglia finishes with a climb of 368 stairs. The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is steep at certain places. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is by far the steepest. It winds through olive orchards and vineyards and is rough in places, but offers the best view of the bay and the spectacular approaches to both Monterosso and Vernazza. The difference in height for the whole Sentiero Azzurro is more than 600 meters and the length is more than 10 km. It takes approximately 5 hours to walk it.

Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible "modern" development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the outside.

Recently, a group of students visited this "fairy tale" but real location. Check out there amazing pictures: