The city of Assisi
The commune, or township, of Assisi has a population of 25,000, although there are only 6000 people living in the historic center.
It is a medieval city that has remained intact over the centuries and it is still protected by a mighty wall. The town was built on the slopes of Mount Subasio (424 meters above sea level) and is set longitudinally from southwest to northeast, lying along overlapping natural terraces. The Rocca, or fortress, is set in the very center, a solitary and dominating presence.
Its ideal geographical position as well as its mild and dry climate make it an ideal tourist spot all year long.
Architects, masons and stonecutters have given Assisi its incomparable appearance.
Time seems to stand still before its beauty and the Middle Ages reign supreme here.
In fact, its very streets look like the ones typical of a medieval city set on the side of a mountain.
The main roads run longitudinally along the mountainside, rising towards the Main Square. Instead, winding their way vertically between these main arteries, are the streets, alleys, paths, archways and stairs.
Set along the streets are medieval houses made of stone quarried from Mount Subasio and this stone seems to come alive after a rain shower, turning red in the warm light of sunset and then becoming pale under the light of the moon or when snowflakes start to fall.
The doorways of these houses, which often have an ogival arch shape, are made of stone.
Near the main door of almost every house, with its steps that are right on the main road, you can see another walled-up door, which is narrower and has a much higher threshold. This is the "door of the dead", which would only be opened to bring out the dead and would then immediately be walled up again.
There are no symmetrical structures here and this is also due to the fact that the houses have been restructured a number of times over the course of the centuries. This can be seen through the numerous doors and windows that have been walled over as well as the supporting buttresses.
The roofs, made of terra-cotta tiles, hang over the streets and are sustained by wooden corbels. As a sign and guarantee of safety, the entire town is protected by the city walls and the walls themselves have experien ced innumerable vicissitudes and bear the secrets of centuries of history. The walls are about five kilometers long.
The purpose of the alleys, which are straight and set at a right angle to the main roads, was to make it easy for the population to reach the walls quickly in case of a sudden attack.
Our portrait of the city is completed by the eight main gates (St. James, Perlici, Moiano, St. Francis, New Gate, St. Peter, Capuchin and Sementone), whose appearance can truly make any visitor feel as if he is living in a bygone era.