On our second to last day, we journeyed to the two hill towns of Assisi and Spello, just a few kilometers north of Spoleto. Before ascending the hill into Assisi, we stopped briefly at Santa Maria dei Angeli, to see the church where St. Francis began his work, and where he died after only forty-four years of life.

Then we headed up the hill to Assisi, stopping at the church of Saint Claire/Chiara, a young woman of noble birth who left her family to join St. Francis and the rest of his order in living a simple life. After a quick coffee break, it was off to the Basilica of St. Francis, a magnificent and ornate structure that, as SSA founder Lorenzo Muti pointed out to the students, is the antithesis of how St. Francis lived his life. Hardly an inch of the walls and ceilings is without a fresco or painting, and we saw many monks, nuns, priests, and pilgrims as we wandered the basilica.

Next stop: Spello. A tiny hill town between Spoleto and Assisi, Spello is known best for its flower festival in June, where the narrow streets are filled with art made from flowers and flower petals. The students had time to shop, explore, and sketch/photograph if they wished. Thankfully, the weather today stayed below 90 and everyone was, for the most part, much more comfortable than previous days out and about in Umbria.

Finally, the students enjoyed a much-earned free evening, where they could have dinner on their own anywhere they chose in Spoleto.

Tomorrow, we prepare to say goodbye to our incredible intensive students, and hold our student showcase, where everyone can present their final pieces to their peers and teachers. It’s been a great almost two weeks, and we can’t wait to be back next summer!