A Trip to Italy

It was in 2004 that our family traveled to Italy, and Mark and I decided—a little last-minute—to return, just the two of us. We homed in on Rome and Florence this time and included Assisi for the Basilica of St. Francis. As usual, our many photos still cannot do these places justice, so I’m cutting to the chase with some of my favorites. Hopefully, they will remind Mark and me of what we loved most: the glorious art in the churches where they were meant to be, the fascinating history—both beautiful and ugly—of the Roman Empire and the Medici in the Renaissance, and the sheer pleasure of sitting at those rooftop cafes overlooking Rome’s ancient ruins and the orange-tiled rooftops of Florence. And now we understand why Assisi is so loved. The life of St. Francis is perfectly told in Giotto’s frescoes adorning the walls of the basilica, and when you enter, they enrich the architectural majesty with a spiritual depth that can move you to tears. What’s more, the basilica’s high perch in that Umbrian hilltop town overlooking the valley, and all its peaceful surroundings, reinforce the story of St. Francis’s simple life and love of nature. In the same way, we loved the natural settings of the cloisters in churches we visited. We’re grateful for Jack and Benjamin’s affinity for the outdoors. Goodwill seems to go hand in hand with simple wonder at the natural world.