VISITING ASSISI: 3 COMPLEMENTARY GUIDE BOOKS By André Cirino OFM

If you're planning a pilgrimage, visit, or tour through Assisi, several new guide books have emerged recently. There are many available, but those reviewed below are among the best. Three are highlighted here as helpful--each for different reasons.

1. GUIDE TO ASSISI: HISTORY AND ART, by Della Porta, Genovesi, Lunghi; Editrice Minerva, Assisi, 1992, 222pp.

This guide book offers eight itineraries through Assisi plus introductory sections on history, environment, religious ceremonies and folklore. The purpose of this book is to assist the pilgrim or visitor in a more in-depth visit of the city and its many sanctuaries, full of art, frescoes, treasures. It goes into fine detail, accompanies the text with some references from the Franciscan sources, and has some excellent color plates (43) as well as black-and-white reproductions. If you're going to spend any money on a work about this city from the historical/artistic perspective, this is the volume to use.

2. ASSISI: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. FRANCIS, by Theophile Desbonnets, OFM, translated by Nancy Celaschi, OSF; Editione Porziuncola, second edition, 1993, 141pp.

This little book is an excellent companion to walk the way of Francis with Desbonnets as guide. A Franciscan scholar from France, Desbonnets (RIP), leads the pilgrim to the places, explains them briefly with ample references to the Franciscan sources included in the text. He includes diagrams of the sanctuaries accompanied as well by several well-placed maps. He includes information on places outside Assisi, such as the Abbey of San Benedetto, Gubbio, Cannara, Bevagna, Montefalco, Foligno, the Rieti Valley, Monte Casale, LaVerna. It has all a pilgrim would desire to prayerfully as well as historically visit Assisi in Francis' footsteps.

3. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. CLARE, by Ramona Miller, OSF, Franciscan Institute Publications, St.Bonaventure, NY, 1993, 100pp.

A most timely work during the eighth centenary year of Clare of Assisi's birth! Ramona Miller, a Franciscan Sister of Rochester, Minnesota and staff member of The Assisi Experience, has researched all the places associated with the life of St. Clare. She devotes a chapter to each of nine major places--the Family Home, San Rufino, Perugia, Porziuncola, Monastery of San Paolo in Bastia, Sant'Angelo in Panzo, San Damiano, San Giorgio, Basilica of Santa Chiara. In each of these sections, Ramona Miller treats of Clare's involvement, then gives historical background, some further reflections, and suggested readings. So if a pilgrim is interested in walking through Assisi in Clare's footsteps, this is the work to guide one into the heart of the Lady Clare.

Optatus van Asseldonck, OFM Cap says one can no longer study or speak of Francis without Clare or vice-versa. They are originators of the Franciscan movement. So on any trip to Assisi, a pilgrim would benefit from carrying both Desbonnets' and Miller's works. Finally, Eric Doyle, OFM wrote: “Besides the writings of St.Francis (and Clare) and the early written sources of (their) life and message, THERE STILL REMAINS ONE MORE SOURCE: THE CITY OF ASSISI ITSELF....Anyone who wants to penetrate the mystery of St.Francis (and St.Clare) really ought to visit Assisi.” To learn this city-source well, the GUIDE TO ASSISI: HISTORY AND ART is an excellent companion to your journey. This book can be purchased in Assisi. Both volumes IN THE FOOTSTEPS can be purchased from: The Franciscan Store, Pulaski, WI.

All three volumes are worth having in our libraries.