Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, Minor basilica in Santa Maria degli Angeli, Italy
The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli is a papal church in Assisi, Umbria, built in Baroque style with a tall dome rising above the central nave. Inside, the Portiuncula, a small medieval stone chapel, stands enclosed by the larger structure, surrounded by tall columns and side altars.
Work began in March 1569 under plans by architects Galeazzo Alessi and Vignola to protect and frame the small 9th-century Portiuncula chapel. The dome was finished in 1667, and the entire structure reached completion in 1679 after more than a century of labor.
The name translates to "Our Lady of the Angels" and refers to a vision experienced by Franciscans in this valley. Pilgrims walk through the large structure to reach the small stone chapel at its center, where they light candles and pause for quiet reflection.
Visitors enter through the main doors and walk straight to the Portiuncula chapel in the center, where lines often form. The side chapels and rose garden are open and offer quieter spaces for those seeking a moment apart.
The roses in the adjacent garden bloom without thorns, a trait linked to a legend about Francis. Visitors also find a small museum in the side area displaying early Franciscan manuscripts and liturgical objects.
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