Actually, when walking through Assisi, you won’t want to “zoom” past the over fifty outdoor frescoes and small shrines adorning the walls of homes, medieval city gates, and entrances to medieval guildhalls. But you can see them, learn about their history – and restoration – and enjoy them leisurely in the video of my early September, 2020 ZOOM presentation, “Assisi’s Medieval Street Art: From the Sacred to the Grotesque.”
Ever since the death of San Francesco in 1226, Assisi has been the destination for pilgrims stopping at his Tomb in the Basilica di San Francesco…..
….and then walking – often, silently in prayer – to the 13th century Basilica di Santa Chiara (where St. Clare is buried)….
…and then on to the Cathedral di San Rufino, housing the body of San Rufino, 3rd century bishop and martyr – and patron saint of Assisi. (San Francesco is patron saint of Italy).
Frescoes accompanied them on their walks….
….as did edicole, small votive shrines. You’ll see very simple ones made by the locals and affixed to their home….
…and other votive shrines frescoed by artists over the centuries:
….as well as edicole housing sacred images in Deruta maiolica…
You’ll meet some of the restoration experts who have returned these artistic wonders to glory:
My talk will conclude in Assisi’s main square, Piazza del Comune…
…viewing the Volta Pinta (“painted vault”), frescoed in the 16th century with “grotto-esque” frescoes – called “grottesche”.
And as you will see in my talk, not all of Assisi’s “street art” gems depict spiritual themes:
Do tune in to my ZOOM talk on the page of my website to learn more about Assisi’s street art. And while you’re on this page, why not check out my other talks?
