of Giuseppe Bambini
The following journey lets one observe the medieval walls of the town, with interesting and unusual views. It is advisable to wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for a country hike and bring a camera: it will definitely be used. There are no problems of direction and it is sufficient to follow the description and to have our magazine "Assisi Mia" in hand: the central page with the map of the town will be useful to check the journey described at any moment. The entire journey - at an even pace and without any hurry - takes about 4 hours, however, the journey can be shortened at several points. The eight town gates along the journey, were all built in the second half of the 13th century, because the municipality's Council "Consiglio del Comune e dalla Magistratura" decreed to build them in 1260. And now , have a nice walk around the walls.
ROUTE: From Piazza Matteotti, locally called Porta Nova, go uphill along Via Santuario delle Carceri. As soon as you go through the gate Porta Cappuccini turn left onto a dirt track that goes uphill - lined with two rows of cypress trees - that line the external perimeter of the Rocca Minore (14th cen.), or Rocchicciola. Once you reach the castle's keep leave the dirt track and take evident path downhill, which has a beautiful panorama of the fortress Rocca Maggiore. The dirt road runs along the walls and, after passing some awful huts, leads to the gate Porta Perlici. Soon after going through the arch turn right along Via Porta Perlici. After walking for about 200 m, right at the beginning of a parking area on the right, take a the downhill dirt road on the right that initially runs along a metallic green fence. Soon after the path forks, do not take the path that descend to the asphalt road underneath but take the road on the left that rises towards the town walls. At the next fork go straight on. Below the gully of the Tescio Torrent with the Tardioli Mill and a tower in ruins. If its on a sunny afternoon, the Rocca Maggiore's profile cuts across the slopes of the "Col Caprile". A ramp with a steep ascent takes you back behind the walls. By looking ahead past a thick strip of broom (and asparagus) you can see the Rocca Maggiore's polygonal tower. Destroyed in civil battles and wars with Perugia - that gave birth to the Local Town Council of Assisi (1198-1202 - was rebuilt in the 14th century. The cemetery is below. By taking a few short steps to the left you reach a square area in front of the fortress. Continue along an obvious path downhill that leads into an olive grove near a private farm house. Veering right takes you descend onto the dirt track below, hence to the left of the farm house: it is polite to as permission to walk through the property. Once you take the dirt road that runs along the walls and after passing a gate (that must be shut after passing through) you descend amidst olive trees in direction of the Basilica of St. Francis. You skirt the new car park; a short flight of descending steps leads to Porta S. Giacomo, which has a solitary cypress tree growing on it. If you cannot walk through the private property an alternative route is possible. From the dirt road near the house veer right and descend towards the cemetery; veer left and walk along a lovely cypress tree lined drive and then you reach Porta S. Giacomo. Without going through under the arch veer right onto an asphalt road that goes downhill towards the Tescio valley. After a few hundred metres, right in front of a dirt road that goes uphill on the right in correspondence to a break in the guard-rail, take the grassy field left that within a short distance leads to a characteristic bridge on the Tescio. Take care when crossing the road as there are no side protection rails! After this point to Ponte S. Vetturino there are two possibilities: 1. the most obvious and least interesting route (recommended for beginners) Cross the bridge and soon after you reach an asphalt road that you walk along veering left until you reach Ponte S. Vetturino; views of the bastions of the Convent of St. Francis. 2. an unusual route but the most interesting (recommended for experts) Just before crossing the bridge take the dirt road to the left that descends to the torrent's bank. At this point keep to the left bank of the Tescio river. Without a definite route - at times near the bank, at times further away - but without any problems along the route you can follow the current until reaching Ponte S. Vetturino. After walking about 20 metres towards the town, parallel to a crossroad with a shrine, take the asphalt road on the left. At the next crossroad go straight on along an uphill dirt track - locally called the Piaggia - that runs along the walls of the external part of the Convent of St. Francis. Towards the right olive groves, farm houses and the unmistakable mass of the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. After going through the Portella di S. Francesco,veer right downhill along Via Frate Elia, hence you walk veering left uphill Via S. Apollinare, skirting the walls of the Benedictine abbey of San Pietro. After a few hundred m take a large flight of steps on the right that skirts the walls of the Monastero of San Giuseppe. After walking through Porta Sementone you come to the SS 147 that you take veering left uphill: keep on the footpath! After having walked about 300 m leave the SS 147 to take on the left a narrow asphalt road uphill. Go through Porta Moiano continuing uphill, then veer right onto a descending flight of steps. Continue along a dirt track leaving behind on the right the old public baths, that have been in disrepair for a long time. The bell tower of the church Santa Maria maggiore, the Rocca Maggiore and the Civic Tower (Torre de Piazza) dominate from behind. The dirt road - Via delle Fonti di Moiano, locally called Strada dei Cavallacci - keeps for quite a way on the top of the walls, and becomes asphalt and continues running along the walls. Once having reached Porta Nova, without going under the arch cross the road continuing straight uphill along Via della Selva. At the end of the street there are two small columns: and here our route around the town walls ends. At this point a rest is necessary - rest along the parapet - to admire the great panorama overlooking the Umbrian Valley and on Assisi: to the fore front the abbey and the church of Santa Chiara. Cross the road, enter the town park. Cross the road and you return to Piazza Matteotti.