PLANUS ARCHE

Planus Arche is the Medieval Latin place name of a vast area situated in the territory of the municipality of Cannara (Perugia). This place became famous because of one of the most poetic episodes in the life of Saint Francis of Assisi: the Sermon to the Birds. Patches covered with oaks, maples, and poplars characterize this landscape which, surrounded on the east side by Mount Subasio with Assisi at its slopes, is uncontaminated by human hands and reveals an area of noteworthy beauty and absolute silence. A small path passes through this area. Traditionally, this is considered the path that Saint Francis walked when, after having preached to the citizens of Cannara and thought for the first time about the foundation of the Third Order called the Temperates, he set out for Bevagna. Following that path he saw a great multitude of birds, left the path to go among them, and preached to them ("The Little Flowers," chapter XVI). This sermon was celebrated throughout the centuries by major painters, poets, and musicians. Ottaviano Turrioni (Scholar of Local History)