Assisi is a Medieval town high up on the top of a hill. It is known as the "green heart" of Italy. The landscape includes the silver green on the valley floor from the olive groves, emerald green from the grape vines, and deep green from the evergreen oak trees. It was here that St. Francis was born and founded his new religious order. The San Francesco Basilica is frescoed from top to bottom by the leading artists of that day, such as: Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini, and Pietro Lorenzetti. These artists painted the life of St. Francis on the walls of the Basilica. A quote from St. Francis states, "slow down and be joyful...you have reached the hill of paradise and this church will knock you spiritual socks off". Which it definitely did!!!
It's hard to imagine a saint saying something about knocking your socks off. I guess he had a sense of humor. That's a huge church. I would think that it would be framed nicely by all of the green that you described.
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