|
Member Spotlight Archives >>
Travel Tales from Umbria & the Amalfi Coast
In a crypt on the lower level of the Basilica de San Francesco, lies the burial plot of St. Francis of Assisi. Despite the opulence of one of Italy’s most- visited holy sites, the original resting place of Il Poverello, or the Little Poor One, was once a cemetery for criminals. When Francis chose this site outside the city walls, it was known as "Inferno Hill." After his death, his closest follower upheld his wishes for a humble burial place. However, after Francis was sainted, Brother Elia began constructionon a two-story basilica which would engulf the hillside and change its name forever to the "Hill of Paradise." Richard Stivers recalls his visit to the tomb of St. Francis. "I’m not particularly religious," he says. "However, at the tomb of St. Francis a sense of reverence and awe hit me right between the eyes. In fact, I suddenly got real religious." What was it about the Basilica de San Francesco that awakened spirituality in a man not normally given to such things? "The Travcoa journey was the antithesis of most trips to Italy," he explains. "Instead of being so overloaded with churches that they ceased to mean anything, we were taken to Assisi where we got to walk the streets St. Francis walked. When we entered the basilica, it was with an understanding of who he was and what that place meant to the people of Assisi." Richard’s journey to Umbria and the Amalfi Coast was his first with Travcoa and his first to Europe. "For more than a decade, I’d gone to Cabo," he says. "It was in the same time zone, only a day’s travel and it was familiar." Richard’s mother,
|
|
an extensive traveler, cornered him about his lack of adventure. "She told me, ‘You’ve got your health, you’ve got the money, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see more,’" Richard recalls. "My parents had such good experiences with Travcoa that I decided to make my own plans to travel with them." Deciding on an itinerary began with a look at Richard’s own likes and dislikes. "I knew I wanted to visit smaller towns where the pace was easier and there would be a greater level of comfort for me and my wife," he says. "I also knew that if I were visiting a larger city, I’d want it to be at the end of the journey when I was more acclimated to the culture." Any apprehensions Richard might have had were dispelled the minute he was met at the airport by his local guide. "Veronica met us at the airport in Naples for the ride to Capri," he said. "I remember mentioning to her that I’d like to upgrade whenever possible on our journey. She laughed at that and said ‘With Travcoa, you’ve gone as far as you can go.’ She wasn’t joking. When we got to our hotel in Capri, it was spectacular," Richard affirms. On his journey, Richard saw the ruins of Pompeii, sampled wine from a private vineyard in Spello and sailed to the ancient Blue Grotto of Capri. However, like in Assisi, it was more than the sites he saw that made this trip unforgettable. "To be able to experience the daily lives of the people who once lived, and now live, in these beautiful towns was incredible," he says. "I didn’t need to see a battlefield—although we did, or visit a museum or church—although we did, to experience the culture. It was all about interacting and understanding." |
