It was great to be in Gubbio early morning – sounds of bells mixed with the bird songs and the hundred of years old stone buildings radiated the grandeur of the past. Gubbio is famous for the story of St. Francis and the wolf, a story of how to make peace in a seemingly impossible situation. In Gubbio also starts the way of peace, the ” Sentiero Francisco della Pace” which I followed to Assisi.
View back to Gubbio
On the way to the hermitage Eremito San Pietro in Vigneto, Rilke’s words stayed with me all the time
Wenn ich so gehe wie ich bin, alleine-
(When I walk just how I am, alone…)
Little chapel on the way
Although, I met a very nice group from France and joined them for coffee.
Today’ s walk was only 16 km and I arrived early enough to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Hermitage, a fortress like building with a chapel and a fresco from the 15th century.
The monastery of St. Peter was already mentioned in the 13th century.
Inner Court
Fresco of Madonna and child. In the chapel, an old Italian pilgrim played the canticle of the sun on the IPhone for me. I was so touched by his kindness.
A nice group of pilgrims were choosing to stay overnight in this place. They were mainly Italiens.
The place was run by the Brotherhood of St. James of Santiago de Compostela.
The rain in the night made nature the next morning incredible vibrant.
I passed many houses where only some stone walls were left. Nature took it over.
In this chapel, I rang the bell for my uncle’s 93rd birthday and send him birthday wishes . I wonder if anybody else heard it.
Ostello Franciscano il Sentiero in Valfabbrica, where I stayed overnight. The place was fantastic! Here I met also a Canadian family who went on the pilgrimage in honor of their father, who just died at the age of 94. He loved poetry and so do his children. We shared our favorite poems.
Pilgrims eating dinner together
It was a short walk today to Assisi. The powerful Basilica, started only two years after St. Francis died, could be seen already from far away.
Basilica, started in 1228
Angela Maria Serachioli, the author of my guidebook. It was such a coincidence that I met her when I picked up my document of having finished the pilgrimage (although, I will continue)
I wanted to stay two nights in Assisi, but the town is fully booked.
View from my hotel room to the Piazza del Comune
Pronaos of the temple of Minerva, now a church, on the Piazza del Comune
l strolled around in the evening, thinking of the time when the whole family visited Assisi in June- we had such a good time together!
There would be so much more to do and see, but tomorrow I will continue my walk to Spello.
