Assisi

The amount of religious history of this city can only be compared to that of Rome. Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, is the world capital of pace. It's history dates back as far as 1000 BC when it was settled by Umbrian immigrants. In 450 BC these settlements were gradually taken over by the Etruscans. Then the Romans took control of central Italy by the Battle of Sentinum in 295 BC. In 238 AD Assisi was converted to Christianity by bishop Rufino. Since then, Assisi has gone through wars, periods of decline, renaissance and periods of peace. Too much history for me to even begin to explain. Today, Assisi is considered a site of  pilgrimage, linked in legend with St. Francis. The gentle saint founded the Franciscan order and shares honors with St. Catherine of Siena as the patron saint of Italy. The Basilica of San Francesco comprises of an Upper Church (pictured above) and a Lower Church (pictured below). One on top of the hill and one at the bottom and a crypt that contains the remains of Saint Francis. The interior of the churches include works by Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti and Pietro Cavallini. The collection of masterpieces gives the basilica an importance in demonstrating the development of Italian art.