Easter in Assisi

In recent days tens of thousands of visitors have arrived in Assisi in anticipation of Easter Sunday. They have been touring the larger churches, keeping shops and restaurants busy and crowding the main  roads through town to the chagrin of those daring enough to drive them. Despite a spell of cold weather, families and tour groups and scout troops could be found outdoors enjoying the intermittent sunshine and the anticipation of an important event. On Good Friday, one scout troop convened on the piazza in front of the Basilica of Saint Clare.

That morning I had joined a few hundred locals and visitors in the "Cristo Morto" procession from the Cathedral of Saint Rufino to the Basilica of Saint Francis, stopping at convents along the way to allow the nuns to venerate Christ, whose image, from a centuries old crucifix, was born through the streets.

Local confraternities help facilitate many feast day and holy day events through the year.

On Saturday the crowds continued to grow.

On Saturday evening I started across town early for the 10:00 p.m. Vigil Mass at the small Church of Santa Margherita, where Franciscans have been celebrating Easter since the Thirteenth Century. I ran into an old friend, Massimo, along the way. From the piazza in front of Santa Margherita, there's a fine view of the great Basilica of Saint Francis, and on this cold and quiet night one could anticipate the approaching Easter celebration.

Turning to Santa Margherita, just one visitor had arrived.

Eventually, the church filled with close to seventy people, mostly locals, for a beautiful celebration. Afterwards, midnight approaching, a bright moon and the joyful sounds of church bells made for a special walk back through town.

Near noon on Easter Sunday a long line of visitors had formed waiting to enter the Basilica of Saint Francis.

The morning service at Santa Margherita had ended, but the Easter decorations were still in place.

Of course, the celebrating extended into the streets, where one could readily access good pastry shops.

The bright Easter choices were colorful.

And numerous.

And delightful. Which would you choose?

Buona Pasqua!