Coming down the lonely roads of inner umbria in the shades of the woods and delicate mountains much resembling steeper foothills you came across varius villages and towns, close to the border with Lazio here with some guidance you can find a road that take you from Montegabbione to one of the many places were Francesco d'Assisi lived (founder of the Ordine dei Francescani wich took his name only after). He lived in poverty by his own will and the absence of material goods in one life. He preached for a life more akin to the nature then to the clinging of society hierarchy.I much reccomend some of his poetry and writings as the famous "Cantico delle Creature"
You can somehow breath this spirit in this place, the shadowy and silent Umbria. A contemplative place wich inspired him and others.
La Scarzuola
Inspired by this way of thinking but with a different approach raise up a strange monastery in one of the orchads that Francesco used to live in.
The tour was guided by two absurd and funny old men wich got in many details and made up something with their esoteric views on the subject wich founded this place. It calls out from recent religions as much as the one from ancient Greece and Rome and astrology or astronomy but that depends on how you want to look at the stars.
The narrow walk through the orchads turn into a much bigger garden with low curated grass. The buildings have a labyrinth like structure though not very hard to navigate as to it's core is almost symmetrical. It got to me a vibe of the Mandelbrot set somehow.
From the gardens then inside the theathre structure of the innderside where the tribune stand with with two platforms one depicting the sun and the other the moon.
It dosen't feel towering but is full of many many details and beautiful geometries.
This structure has been heavily modified to look like this around 1958 till the 70ies and don't resemble too much of what have been the original and mythical hut were Francesco d'Assisi lived around 1218. Tommaso Buzzi an architect from Milano wanted to create his vision on how a perfect city would be and so La Scarzola came to be around the teachings of Francesco and folliwing CJ Yung principles and other astrophysical and esoteric principles.
Not going to much into the details as I really like my walk there making up my mind on the place by myself first I walked from the theatre Mundi out into the grass theatre. The whole aesthetic was really pleasing and a joy to discover with the more naked buildings outside rapresenting the nature. The place meshed well with the sourrindings.
I did really like how it sparse was like almost a decentralized city but not one that has advanced many steps towards it but is just in the infancy of the idea and for the most part has the wealth of the theatre Mundi having a relaxing time walking and enjoying sometime in the fields before coming back in the bigger and crowded center of power. Or so that's what I read into!
I hope I haven't spoiled to much as it is a very nice place to discover and in a way an experiment worth seeing. If you visit though be prepared to be confronted with the two old men that nowdays manage the place with their very personal touch. Gonna be whacky for sure.😂
There's one of them hidden in the photo if you can find him!
Have a goodday everybody! :D