Umbra students hailing from St. Bonaventure University, the Center for International Studies, Lebanon Valley College, Richmond College, the University of Mississippi, and Newman College were all invited for a daytrip to Assisi this Saturday. Local tour guide Marco Bellanca led an especially detailed walk around Assisi, and did his best to convince us that behind the heavy fog there really are spectacular views out across the valley.Students learned about the importance of the original frescoes in the Basilica of St. Clare to Renaissance art history, and crossed into the breathtaking sanctuary at the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi. 

After everyone had a chance to 

 pick up souveniers for the nonne a casa — grandmothers back at home — as Marco 

had suggested, students left the center of Assisi and took a short ride down into the valley to the Agriturismo La Carfagna for lunch. Despite our late arrival, the family was ready with a full course meal: several types of homemade pasta, roasted Umbrian specialities, and zuppa inglese for dessert. All returned back to Perugia that afternoon with full stomachs and ready for a long nap before another Saturday night in the center got underway…