Christmas, a source of joy and love, is also synonymous with inspiration and beauty. This year, this has never been more true than in Assisi, Italy, where projections on the city’s churches offer a unique and magnificent spectacle. It’s also true that Assisi is the place where the Nativity scene was created, invented by St. Francis.
On December 8, the city’s officials inaugurated the new light show in the city, entitled “Francis’ Christmas.” The Mass of the Immaculate Conception launched the inauguration, before the blessing of the creche and the Christmas tree. Then, they inaugurated the projections on the churches of the city, which are being adorned with the works of Giotto—not as, originally, on the interior walls, but on the exterior facades of the Basilica of St. Francis and the church of St. Clare, the cathedral of St. Rufinus, the Abbey of St. Peter, and the City Hall.
“Following the stars, visitors meet and admire on the facade of the upper basilica of St. Francis the symbolic image of Christmas, the Nativity of Jesus; and on St. Rufinus, the Annunciation of Mary, through the mapped illumination of the surface of the architecture and a graphic adaptation of Giotto’s fresco,” explained Carlos Dodero, head of architectural lighting at Enel X, the company in charge of the city-wide display. “On the facade of St. Clare and the first buttress shines a graphic adaptation of the fresco of the Visitation by Giotto, and lastly, on the facade of the Abbey of St. Petero can be admired the ‘Adoration of the Magi,’ adapted to the composition of the architecture.”
And the enchantment does not stop there! More than 100 life-size sculptures have been installed in the city, colorful artistic illuminations decorate the houses of the historic center and are visible from the plain, and lastly there are stars that illuminate the route between the sites concerned. Lucky are those who can come to the site! This decoration will be in place until January 1.
And for those who aren’t lucky enough to travel this year, there’s another solution to let you dream and be carried away: go to the dedicated website and marvel at the videos posted online. It’s a voyage to a land of beauty that you can share with your family.
