Last weekend we went to Casentino National Forest, which is in Tuscany, but a little northwest of Arezzo. We took a bus up the big part of the mountain to spend a day of hiking around Chiusi della Verna, a monk commune, which is located on the peak of a mountain. It was rough, considering the night before we had our Halloween party (I dressed as the musical "Rent" by the way - all of the characters). Despite our tired dancing gams, we managed to hike quite a lot. It was worth it - the views of the Tuscan hills in autumn were too good to be true. The monastery itself was beautiful, rich with old stone passageways and caves embedded into the mountainside. We even got to hear the monks chant a little bit, which was a haunting and beautiful moment. This monastery was founded by St. Francis, and it was there that he had a vision of Christ and received the stigmata. They have the exact floor where this happened well protected, as well of one St. Francis' habits still intact. Pretty cool stuff.
The hike was absolutely breathtaking. It seems like the perfect place for a monastery. All that surrounds you is nature, completely secluded from the mess of every day life.
Here's a website about La Verna:
http://www.comune.chiusi-della-verna.ar.it/
And pictures of course
No comments:
Post a Comment