From Montone we drove to Assisi where our first stop was at Basilica de Santa Maria degli Angeli (Basilica of Mary of the Angels.) It is an 18th century church which was built around the small chapel where St. Francis first worked on "repairing the church." It is a large church (7th largest among Christian churches?) and seems inconsistent with the life and ministry of Francis.

This is a photo of the interior showing the original chapel of St. Francis.

Photo from Wikipedia.

We then rode up to the Basilica of St. Francis.

We walked to the entrance to the lower level. Our local guide, Guiseppi, first took us inside at the lower level.

The lower basilica contained many frescoes on the life of Christ.

Here we see the adoration of the infant Jesus.

The crucifixion of Christ.

The upper basilica

St. Francis renumciating his father.

St. Francis prayed for a man dying of thirst and caused water to come forth from the rock.

Although this scene is often called "St. Francis preaching to the birds", it is probably more indicative of his concern for nature.

Interior photos from http://www.christusrex.org/www1/francis/lower.html

We had time for lunch in Assisi as well as a little more sightseeing. This is the Temple of Minerva. Built in the 1st century B.C., the facade has survived surprisingly well. In 1539 the inner sanctum of the temple was transformed into the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, with further alterations added in the Baroque style during the 17th century.

A view of the surrounding countryside on our way to the bus for our ride back to Montone.

Later in the day we go to an olive mill and a truffle hunt.