Assisi - more snow and lots of winter

The Piazza Santa Chiara

Since last Saturday even more snow fell - so that's another excuse to go out taking photographs of the scenery. It also has been cold. A strong wind on Monday. I spent most of Monday inside the Basilica of St Francis looking at the frescoes - except round midday when, apart from it being lunch time, I had got so cold from being inside I had to return to the friary to warm up.

Br Tom with Anglican church members in Assisi on a snowy morning

Tuesday I went to Spello, the next train stop down the valley from Assisi. There are many Roman remains, medieval churches and stunning renaissance artworks. Perhaps the most famous there are the Baglioni Chapel fresoces by Pintoricchio. A stroke of luck in that they were being filmed that morning and so were brightly lit. I didn't need to pay my Euros into the slot
machine to turn on the lights.

Ancient city gate in Spello

Italian motor vehicles in the historic centre of Spello

Instructions on what to do with your dog droppings!

Back in Assisi that night the Anglican congregation held its Nine Lessons and Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. As I've spent every Christmas since 1994 (except one) in Korea where there is neither mulled wine nor mince pies I have a lot of catching up to do. I had heard there was to be a performance of Verdi's Requiem in the Upper Basilica with a number
of famous performers. I had also been told that I might be able to get admission without a ticket (which had all been sold out months ago). Went down to the basilica but discovered that the concert had been the previous night. So back to St Leonards to the Anglicans for more mince pies and mulled wine!