La Verna

Climbing up the trail along the mountain Penna, we arrive at La Verna. Destination for pilgrims from all over the world, La Verna is the place where nature and spirituality come together in perfect harmony. Francis during his life he went several times to Verna. The first dates back to 1214 when it wants to see for yourself the mountain donated by the local feudal lord, Count Orlando Catani, who, struck to the heart from the words of Francis during a sermon, offered him for the "health of his soul" . The Fioretti tell us that the Holy One, arrived at the foot of the mountain, seen approaching "a great multitude of birds, which with them singing and beating of wings, all showed the greatest delight and joy," joy interpreted as a sign of divine pleasure: "I believe, dear brothers, who love our Lord Jesus Christ, that we dwell in this solitary mountain." La Verna thus becomes one of the hermitages where Francis likes to spend each year prolonged periods of retreat, in prayer and penance. But La Verna is above the place where, back in September 17, 1224, feast of the exaltation of the cross, is heard the prayer of Francis of being able to participate in the passion of Christ. Never in history had a similar incident occurred: Francis, outwardly, is the image of Christ, his body is marked by the same wounds of the crucified and his hands and his feet have shaped growths of nails. On 30 September of that year, Francis left for the last time the sacred mountain where now stands one of the most important Franciscan sanctuaries. Far from the noise, in a place of peace and unspoiled beauty, the Sanctuary of La Verna is surrounded by lush forest that protects the precious treasures of art and faith, starting with the church of Santa Maria. Commissioned by Francis himself wishing fulfill the desire of the Virgin in a heavenly vision, of seeing that place a shrine dedicated to her, the church has the same measurements of the Portiuncula of Assisi. Devoted instead to the Basilica Santa Maria Assunta, a Latin cross with side arms greatly reduced. It contains important works of art, including the Annunciation of the sculptor Andrea della Robbia. You access it by the square of the dial, so named because of the sundial, the sundial engraved on the wall of the tower. The dial is paved and surrounded by a stone wall, the center, a large wooden cross stands at the sky and opens his eyes on the beautiful landscape of hills and meadows of the Casentino. It is these beauties of creation to attract Francis, in particular, loves to gather in prayer and meditation on the Passion in the den of lonely Spicco Sasso. Going from Sasso Spicco, you can visit the Chapel of the Stigmata, built in 1263, where Francis received the stigmata. The exact location is indicated by a frame of red marble and protected by a pane of glass just in front of the altar.