Easter in Assisi

As in years past, last night I attended the Easter Vigil Service at the small Chiesa di Santa Margherita, which is in an old neighborhood above the Basilica di San Francesco.

Santa Margherita has seating for perhaps 70, and it seems for the Easter Vigil Mass about 100 arrive. Last night a scout troop showed up adding about 30 to the total. Needless to say, the church was very, very crowded, but the service was beautiful. This morning I stopped back and took a picture of the interior, decorated for Easter.

The Franciscans have been ministering to the Santa Margherita community continuously for about seven centuries.
On Easter Morning, a fog had settled over the valley, edging up into the lower parts of town.

Including part, but not all, of the Basilica di San Francesco.

Many thousands come to Assisi for Easter. I looked in at the upper church of the Basilica (with Giotto's frescoes of the life of Saint Francis) around 10:00 a.m. and it was practically full in anticipation of the 10:30 a.m. service. Meanwhile, the streets of town also were filling up, including the Piazza del Comune.

Here's a view including the bell tower and the Chiesa di Santa Maria sopra Minerva, now a church, but a roman temple two thousand years ago.

The crowds don't seem to deter cyclists from coming through town on a beautiful spring morning.

The pastry shops, of course, celebrate Easter as well.

And they can be quite creative.

This one young fellow in a window is wearing a sign saying he doesn't like chocolate. (note the very long nose)

Finally, an Assisi Easter egg.

Buona Pasqua!