La Verna Attractions
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The pilgrimage center of La Verna lies in the hills of the Casentino in northeastern Tuscany, some 60km/37mi north of Arezzo.
History
After giving up the direction of the Order which he had founded, Francis of Assisi withdrew about 1222 to the solitude of the hills. Here on September 14th, 1224 tradition has it that he received the stigmata, the marks of Christ's wounds; an event described by Dante in the "Divine Comedy" ("Paradiso" 11, 106 ff.). Since then La Verna, beautifully situated amid pine forests, has been a hallowed place, and the Franciscan friary is the goal of countless pilgrims. Days of high festival are September 14th, commemorating the stigmatization, and October fourth, St Francis's Day.
History
After giving up the direction of the Order which he had founded, Francis of Assisi withdrew about 1222 to the solitude of the hills. Here on September 14th, 1224 tradition has it that he received the stigmata, the marks of Christ's wounds; an event described by Dante in the "Divine Comedy" ("Paradiso" 11, 106 ff.). Since then La Verna, beautifully situated amid pine forests, has been a hallowed place, and the Franciscan friary is the goal of countless pilgrims. Days of high festival are September 14th, commemorating the stigmatization, and October fourth, St Francis's Day.
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