Assisi

I hadn't even heard of Assisi before my school planned a day trip there, but turns out it's something of a hidden gem of Italy. It's a medieval city in the mountains in the Umbria region and has the most beautiful views of the countryside below. Thank goodness we went on a clear day, when the views were absolutely breathtaking. I'm a sucker for stone buildings even in modern suburban America, so I found the buildings in Assisi super charming.


The town is best known for the Church of St. Francis because it's where the saint used to live. Inside the church are lots of really awesome frescoes of Jesus and of St. Francis. I didn't know much about the saint before the visit, but he's known for obtaining stigmata — the same wounds as Jesus did when crucified — after an angel appeared to him.

Aside from St. Francis' cathedral and all the other churches in Assisi, there's also a military castle overlooking the town. We made the trek up and spent some time inside, where we got to shoot bows and arrows, and climb a narrow spiral staircase to the top tower, where we got an even better view of the gorgeous green landscape below.