Eremi delle Carceri
It was hard to leave Assisi- not only because I missed a big photo show of Sebastiao Salgado with photos projected on the west facade of the Basilica, but I also felt the need to be longer with the frescos of Giotto, the charming streets, churches and niches of the town.
Piazza della Comune
When I started my hike up to Mount Subasio outside of the city wall of Assisi, I passed dogs caged in, furiously barking, terrible to look at. It was the opposite of the spirit of St. Francis.
But soon I was diving into the magic of Mount Subasio. At the Eremi delle Carceri , I stayed for hours walking through this wild and beautiful landscape. St. Francis and several of his followers meditated, contemplated and prayed in caves here.
Monastery
Statue of St. Francis looking at stars
It was noon, when I started to climb up the over 1000 meter high Mount Subasio, a beautiful walk to wide meadows above the tree line.
View back to Assisi
I enjoyed the view on the top
Still high up, I passed a refugio for hikers trapped on the mountain.
Refugio
There was even firewood provided in case of emergency
It was a long, beautiful and strenuous hike down to Spello. Sometimes, I thought I had lost my way. I was very happy to see, finally, the town in the evening light. I was so much looking forward to stay in this charming place.
However, the convent I booked to stay overnight was far outside town. Even worse, it looked like a prison, had a bad energy and the room smelled from cat urine….cats were all over the place. I do not want to mention all the other things I had a strong aversion to – I booked a place in the Palazzo Bocci, escaped and discovered that my desire for simplicity has its limits.
Last minute booking brought me to this place.
It was far too late to stroll through the town. Luckily, I had seen it already in June.
When I left the next morning, it rained.
Spello
Spello
The first hours of walk were beside a street with cars rushing by. It was humid and wet – not the kind of walk I like. When I stopped in one of the cafe bars to drink cappuccino, the waiter made a beautiful design. I was delighted!
After a while, the walk went through a sea of olive trees and sometimes little chapels on the way.
A charming old gate
Trevi in the distance
In a bar in Trevi somebody recommended a Bed and Breakfast place for pilgrims nearby – I got the last room and felt very lucky. I was so tired that I rested until the evening.
Piazza in the rain
Trevi is a beautiful place and seemed totally empty when I strolled through the narrow, steep streets in the evening
