People love celebrating their hometown heroes, and this is especially true for Assisi which celebrates St. Francis and St. Clare, who lived in the 13th century.
Students at the Lasallian Universities Center for Education (LUCE) in Rome visited the unique hill town in the region of Umbria this past week. They immersed themselves in the art and architecture of the Middle Ages, which makes Assisi a destination for both pilgrims and scholars from around the globe.
“We traveled by train to Assisi as snow fell on the top of Monte Subasio. The city is positioned on terraces on the western side of the mountain. Elisabetta Federici, an expert guide, led the group through the Basilica of St. Francis, San Damiano church, and the Basilica of St. Clare.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to explore a variety of themes including the Crusades and learn about the religious communities that sprang from the area,” said Dr. Dennis H. Cremin, Academic Director for the LUCE program in Rome. He continued, “students learned about key moments including the vocational call of St. Francis and St. Clare’s decision to form a religious order for women.”
“It was really moving to be in the San Damiano church where St. Francis received his call. Then, we saw the cross that spoke to him, which is now in St. Clare’s church up the hill. It makes these events really come to life,” continued Joanne Kuttner, Student Services Coordinator for the LUCE program and Global Scholar.
Ethan Justice, Computer Science major, added, “I didn’t know much about St. Francis prior to this trip, but I learned a great deal. What really stood out was the city’s Medieval architecture.”
Students took a group study tour of Florence earlier this semester.
For more information on the LUCE program in Rome contact: Chris Swanson at swansoch@lewisu.edu
