The idea of Assisi as a city devoted to the cult has not developed in a short time, instead we can say that this city was born for this reason. In fact there have been some discoveries that go back to the V century and that testify us that near the Subasio mountain there has been a place of cult. From this place has developed the city of Assisi. But the real city began to develop during the roman and pre- Roman epoch, of these information we still have writings of the Latin writer Properzio. Assisi had some influences from the city of Perugia, even if it has developed in a rich and flourishing town, that at the end of the II° century B. C. was encircled by mighty walls in order to defend the city. Maybe the Forum of the city rose in the actual zone between the Temple of Minerva and the Cathedral of S. Rufino. And it is in these proximities that we can find the amphitheatre. From the archaeological finds and from the decorations it is supposed that the city and the citizen were in a good economic level, and the population was very devoted to various divinities. The evangelization of the city happened around the III° century thanks to S. Rufino, first bishop, that suffered the martyrdom by drowning in the Chiascio in 232.
From the III° century we do not have many information about Assisi, it was ransacked several times by the Barbarians, conquered by the Byzantines ending under the dukedom of Spoleto (568) after the descent of the Longobardi. After this Carlo Magno, ransacked and destroyed almost all the city. Until the XI° century we have few information about Assisi, form this century seems that Assisi is growing and developing thanks also to the diffusion of the Benedictine monasticism (see S. Benedetto in Subasio).
The development of the city brings to fierce controversies against the near Perugia. Indicative are also the struggles of the citizens of Assisi against the imperial power, that brings to the destruction of the Rocca (seat of the Duke of Spoleto and Duke of Assisi) and of the houses of the nobles that supported the imperial power. At this point the citizens of Assisi had to defend themselves from the power of the Pope, from the aversion of the noble feudatories and from the city of Perugia, that wanted to conquer Assisi and that brought to the defeat of the Assisi’s army in Collestrada in 1202. Through this defeat the power of the city returns to the nobles (BONI HOMINES) to damage of the new social class (HOMINES POPOLI) that however in the future will guide the city of Assisi. Are to be mentioned also the feast of the ascension, the feast of forgiveness, the feast of S. Rufino and S. Chiara and the celebration of S. Francis ( Patron of Italy).
Of notable interest is the natural landscape of the surrounding hills, rich of olive groves and vineyards, from which are produced a really good wine and an excellent oil. These two products placed near other delicious foods (cheeses, cold meats, truffles and mushrooms) give a particular singleness to the Umbria’s cooking, that can be tasted only in these zones. Between the XIII and the XIV century, the city of Assisi lives the most greater shine, and the city extends its power to the near territories. The small land owners want to live in the city and for this reason the building activity increases and the city get the lengthened aspect that still has. Very important are the two religious settlings that with their tourist flows help Assisi to revive from the periods of crisis. In the centre of the city rose the building of the Government of the city, for example the Casalino di San Donato (former temple of Minerva). In 1237 Assisi had the privilege to elect the Podestà and the other judges of the city, thanks the authorization of Gregorio IX.
The testimony of the Franciscan presence is the massive structure of the Basilica of St. Francis that has attracted the best artists for almost one century; from Giunta Pisano, to Cimabue, Giotto, and to the end Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini. Cause of wars, pestilences and earthquakes (from 1345 to 1604 there have been 12 of destructive strength), Assisi has been thrown in a deep crisis state. Apart from the period in which the Spanish Cardinal Albornoz reigned, that gave back peace to Assisi, the city suffered up to the half of the XVI century under continuous lootings and devastations by various enemies, and also cause the ruins caused by the two opposite factions of the city: The Above part “Parte de Sopra” led by Nepis and the Under Part “Parte de Sotto” led by Fiumi. With alternate stories Assisi has been led also by some sirs from Perugia among them we remember Fortebracci, Baglioni and Piccinino. At the end of this fights, Assisi is subdued by the papal power and the governor sent by the Pope in 1542, Giovanni Andrea Cruciali, established that the city would no more divided into districts or doors. All this has not benefited the city, from the point of view of the development it suffered a great deceleration.
In 1569 has been placed the first stone of the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. This church has been planned by Galeazzo Alessi. After the period in which Assisi has been led by Albornoz, Assisi started a slow and continuous decadence, in both aspects economic and cultural. Even if the nobles of the city started to build new buildings, most of the houses were uninhabited and decadent. All this has contributed to lose interest for Assisi and after the Concil of Trento also the interest for the church decreased, where intellectuals and theologians have put in prominence the interest for the first martyrs, and the movement born in the Middle Ages see these as periods of moral and spiritual decadence.
The same travellers have little interest for the city and this falls in such a torpor that is almost abandoned by the same citizens. Even not the new enlightenment ideas are able to wake up the city. In September 1860 the Piedmont’s army enters in Assisi, and without finding resistance, Assisi is annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. Only later, with the discovery of Chiara and Francesco’s bodies, and the subsequent period of the Romanticism, that rediscovers the interest for the Middle Ages, brings vivacity to the city of Assisi and gives impulse for new buildings construction. People have again interest in Assisi and thanks the tourism comes also more money. New Hotels are built, and so also new streets and above all the railroad. Of fascist epoch are the buildings of “Convitto Nazionale Principe di Napoli” located in Piazza Matteotti and the Institute for blind and deaf-mute people risen in 1940.
At the end of the eight hundred, besides the hotels and coffee bars, traditional craftsmanlike activities are developed, they produce objects in wrought iron, ceramics and embroideries, to be sold to the tourists.
the second world war bring again to a slowdown of the economic of the city, this also because the city became the centre of refugees. However the city didn’t have many damages during the war, this also thanks to a mediation with the Holy See and to the colonel Muller, who, sensible to the beauties and artistic treasures of the city, and made of Assisi a hospital city. The Holy Year 1950 leads to a relaunch of the tourist activity of the city from which began a tourist mass phenomenon to which Assisi has had to adjust with suitable buildings. Currently the economic activities of Assisi are strictly related to the tourism especially to the religious one, that increases continuously.
A very important event happened in Assisi was the “ World day of Peace” held in October 27, 1986, in which for the first time in the story Pope Giovanni Paolo II, put together the representatives of all races and of almost all religions with the intention to pray for the peace among the people.
Texts Kindly offered by: Editrice Minerva Assisi