Santa Maria degli Angeli: basilica, Porziuncola and chapel

The Porziuncola, a heart within a heart

The Porziuncola is the small church Francis restored and where he understood his vocation: here he founded the Order of Friars Minor, welcomed Clare in 1212 and obtained the Pardon of Assisi, the plenary indulgence. To protect it and welcome pilgrims, an enormous basilica was built around it: today, walking in, you find a tiny chapel beneath an immense dome — a contrast that tells, better than any description, the distance between Francis's original simplicity and the way his legacy was later celebrated.

Basilica, Porziuncola and Chapel of the Transito: the difference

• The basilica is the great church built between 1569 and 1679 to a design by Galeazzo Alessi. The 1832 earthquake destroyed part of its central nave; the facade, topped by Guglielmo Colasanti's gilded statue of the Madonna of the Angels, was rebuilt between 1925 and 1930.
• The Porziuncola is the medieval chapel at the centre of the basilica, under the dome: the 'chapel' people mean when they talk about Santa Maria degli Angeli, the place where the Franciscan order was born.
• The Chapel of the Transito, also inside the basilica, was a cell of the convent infirmary: Francis died here on the evening of 3 October 1226.

What to see beyond the Porziuncola

• The Rose Garden — the thornless roses linked to the miracle told by Franciscan tradition.
• The Porziuncola Museum — devoted to the history of the sanctuary and of the Franciscans, open 9am–1pm and 2:30–5pm, closed on Wednesdays.
• The facade with the gilded statue of the Madonna of the Angels, visible from the square.

Practical information

Basilica opening hours

7:30am–12:30pm and 2:30–7pm, daily

Admission

Free, as are the friars' guided visits

Porziuncola Museum

9am–1pm and 2:30–5pm, closed on Wednesdays

Distance from La Mora

2.1 km by car

Opening hours from the sanctuary's official website, porziuncola.org (October 2026): they may change on feast days.

A villa near Santa Maria degli Angeli

For groups and large families there is also Villa Relax, the independent villa owned by the same family, in Rivotorto di Assisi, 5 km from the basilica: up to 16 guests in 6 bedrooms, with a private pool and garden, rented exclusively.

Getting there from Agriturismo La Mora

It's a 2.1 km drive along the plain connecting the countryside around La Mora to the centre of Assisi: the Basilica is a natural first stop for a day out, often even before heading up to the historic centre. Those who prefer to travel lighter can also rent an e-bike directly at the property.