Along the Apenine mountains, between Rome and
Florence, are the regions of Tuscany and Umbria.
Many of the hill towns in this area date back to Roman
times. In Assisi we visited the basilica and saw the Giotto
frescos depicting the life of St. Francis. They date from the
the early 14th century. In Perugia, the relic associated
with the basilica is the Virgin Mary's wedding ring. They
keep it behind an ornate iron grate in a big metal sepulcher
that looks like a space capsule.
