A few years ago I traveled from Assisi to Sorrento along the Amalfi Coast of Italy. I remember the time I spent in Assisi like it was yesterday. What a magical town! I got lost in it for hours and learnt so much about it’s fascinating past. It’s famous for the saint who was born there, Saint Francis of Assisi. He was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher.

Though he was never ordained to the Catholic priesthood, Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history. He reportedly heard the voice of Christ, who told him to repair the Christian Church and live a life of poverty. He promptly gave up the wealth he was used to from his family to become a humble preacher. He devoted his life to Christianity, becoming known all over the Christian world. St Francis of Assisi is honoured by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of animals and ecology. One of his most famous sermons is one he gave to a flock of birds. Later in life, Francis reportedly received a vision that left him with the stigmata of Christ—marks resembling the wounds Jesus Christ suffered when he was crucified—making Francis the first person to receive the holy wounds of the stigmata. He was canonized as a saint on July 16, 1228. Today, he has had a lasting resonance with millions of followers across the globe. Plan your tour now at Insight Vacations. It’s a 2 hour drive from Rome.