Assisi and Firenze

[Margaret LaCugna]

To those who may know:   Is there a guide book for walking this ?   I have
been to Italia more than ten times and have not seen one either in English
or Italian.  I would not expect there to be a systems of  the extensive
refugios , etc just a map and markers maybe would be sufficient for me.

Thanks and happy new year

Best Regards,

Margaret M. LaCugna
2790 Broadway    3G
New York, NY 10025
e-mail: mmlacugnaamsn.com
phone: 212.665.8847
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Kohut" <bvjkaODIN.PDX.EDU>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: SanTiago and San Rocco and arrivederci.


> Hello from a newbie to the list:
>
> You may be interested in the following: I have recently perused a book
> entitled, "Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves; an American Naturalist in
Italy",
> written by Gary Paul Nabhan.  Specifically about:
>
> "A journey from Florence to Assisi in the steps of St. Francis proves as
> much a spiritual quest as an eclectic scientific inquiry for
enthnobotanist
> Nabhan (Enduring Seeds, 1989). While recovering from a painful divorce,
> Nabhan, who's part Lebanese, decided to walk the two hundred miles between
> Florence and Assisi ``in part to ponder my Mediterranean roots, and in
part
> to learn of the land of my saint, San Francisco.''
>
> Apparently Nabhan followed an old 200 mile pilgrimage trail taken by St.
> Francis. I haven't yet read the book, but I was told that the author gives
> no details re. the trail. I would dearly like to learn more re. this
> pilgrimage route. Perhaps you would too.
>
> Have a wonderful trip.
>
> Joe, El Peregrino Futuro. (I leave for the Camino in April.)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Rosina Lila <BlaroliaAOL.COM>
> To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 10:03 AM
> Subject: SanTiago and San Rocco and arrivederci.
>
>
> > Hello you all,
> >     When I went to Venice for Thanksgiving I was not able to get any
> > substantial information about St. Rocco's pilgrimage to Santiago, other
> than
> > general assertions that in San Rocco's times most better off young men
> made
> > pilgrimages to Santiago, and that San Rocco, being French and,
therefore,
> > closer to Spain, was surely to have done so.  I was directed, however,
to
> > sources at the pontifical library in Assisi which are believed to
contain
> > more precise information.
> >     In truth, I did not try too hard to find relative data..... Venice
> being
> > Venice... Besides, when I got there, and for most of the few days that I
> > spent there, Venice was entirely enveloped in a thick, magnificent fog.
> It
> > was impossible to distinguish the sea, or lagoon, from the sky, and as
> people
> > walked they sort of disappeared in the mist and became one with the
> sea-sky
> > element.  Having being so occupied in the effort to process so many (so
> very
> > many) death certificates, I guess that my mind was death imbued ....
yet,
> > watching people walking in Venice, and disappearing as though they had
> become
> > souls united to the universe, I was consoled thinking that death can be
> > beautiful.
> >     Further, during those times when the tourists give Venice a rest,
the
> > Venetians take their city to heart and go to town having all sorts of
> > celebrations.  On thanksgiving day they were celebrating our Lady of the
> > Salute and had built a bridge on boats, for the occasion, leading from
the
> > San Marco side to the church.  The bridge was lit by torches, day and
> night,
> > and looked after by the Carabinieri in full regalia, and edged by little
> > islands of winter flowers. I was mesmerized by the way in which the
> vaporetti
> > managed to make it under that bridge with about one inch to spare on
> either
> > side.  There were also those bagpipers and their lively dirges giving
the
> > scene a fantastic atmosphere.
> >     There was a long line to get inside of the church, and once there
one
> > easily could miss the NYC subway at rush hour for its comparative
> roominess.
> > There were services in all of the altars of the church, at the same
time,
> > with music and all, and more candles that I have even seen anywhere. It
> took
> > about an hour or so just to make it through the inside of the church
> which,
> > as many of you surely know, it is really small.
> >     Outside, there were saltimbanchi and musicians in period costumes,
and
> > lots and lots of pastry and candy making.... as well as that delicious
> white
> > wine which they serve hot to be stirred with a cinnamon stick.  As my
> > hotelier friend said "all Venice was there".
> >     The next day the bridge was gone, the church was back to its
heavenly
> and
> > majestic  whiteness and the whole area was as clean and peaceful as a
> > postcard of the Dogana in winter.
> >     Back in New York and now, I have been medically ordered to take a
rest
> of
> > a few weeks; the doctors are very insistent and I shall comply.
> Therefore, I
> > am leaving tomorrow, Saturday for Venice to spend New Year's and a few
> days
> > there, and will spend the rest of January in Italy during my prescribed
> > idleness.  I plan to go to Pisa, to see the renovated tower, and spend a
> few
> > days in Assisi (which I love and where I would like to live out my
life).
> > -Since I have the time, I will probably walk from Rome to Assisi, which
is
> > something I have wanted to do for some time.-  The Pope is having a
> meeting
> > of world religious leaders there around the 25th of January, so I'll try
> to
> > get there much sooner and avoid the multitudes, in order to pursue the
San
> > Rocco's leads which were given to me in Venice.
> >     I was going to send you this message tomorrow, just before I leave,
> but I
> > am doing it today so that if there is something that I can look up for
> you,
> > or get for you,  while I am in Italy there is time for you to send me a
> > message about it.
> >     On an unrelated note,  among my Christmas presents there is a book
> about
> > a pilgrimage in America called "The Road to Guadalupe, a Modern
Pilgrimage
> to
> > the Goddess of America"; the book was written by Eryk Hanut, from Las
> Vegas
> > (who wrote a book about Marlene Dietrich) and deals with the pilgrimage
to
> > our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City which receives an
estimated
> > seventy five thousand pilgrims a month.  The book's ISBN is
1-58542-120-0.
> I
> > haven't read it yet, but shall do so on the plane.
> >     By the way, three days ago the Pope inaugurated a website to the
> Virgin
> > of Guadalupe's Cathedral.   The site address is:
> > www.virgendeguadalupe.org.mx
> >     There has been a series of very interesting messages, in Portuguese,
> in a
> > Spanish Camino list-serv,  from a Brazilian pilgrim referring to the
> believed
> > pilgrimage of St. Thomas to South America. After I finish the work that
I
> > still must complete, and pack and all, if I have time I will translate
the
> > messages and post them.   If  I don't have the time I may print and take
> them
> >  with me and will send them  from abroad.  (I do look into the
cyber-world
> in
> > stores sand cafes now and then).
> >     Much affection to you all.  I am truly, deeply thankful for this
list,
> > and for you, and I wish you a very happy and peaceful New Year.
> >     Love ya!
> > Rosina
>