- Day 13 -
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, Basilica of St. Clare, and the Basilica of St. Francis were among the churches we visited. All are impressive in their own right. The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels is built around the chapel where St Francis lived and died. It's very humbling peering inside the chapel and envisioning his simple life. Just outside is the thornless rose garden, where apparently St Francis threw himself upon the roses to avoid a temptation and the thorns dropped off the roses. Thornless roses continue to grow there to this day. And the Basilica of St. Francis is rather stately, with an upper basilica, a lower basilica, and a crypt. They are filled with frescoes telling the story of St. Francis' life and the Passion of Christ.
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, Basilica of St. Clare, and the Basilica of St. Francis were among the churches we visited. All are impressive in their own right. The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels is built around the chapel where St Francis lived and died. It's very humbling peering inside the chapel and envisioning his simple life. Just outside is the thornless rose garden, where apparently St Francis threw himself upon the roses to avoid a temptation and the thorns dropped off the roses. Thornless roses continue to grow there to this day. And the Basilica of St. Francis is rather stately, with an upper basilica, a lower basilica, and a crypt. They are filled with frescoes telling the story of St. Francis' life and the Passion of Christ.