Facts about Santa Maria degli Angeli Assisi
To non Catholics a visit to Santa Maria degli Angeli Assisi come as a revelation of history, beauty and spirituality. Here are 10 facts to explain the magic of the place.
1. Size
According to Assisi Online Santa Maria degli Angeli is the seventh largest Christian church (St. Peter’s Basilica being the largest) – A Mannerist styled basilica situated at the foot of the Assisi hill in Umbria.
2. Date
The basilica was constructed between 1569 and 1679. It is 126 meters long, 65 meters large and the dome is 75 meters high.
3. A church within a church
Inside the basilica directly under the dome there’s another little church of older origin which measures about 5.5 by 3.2 m. This little exquisitely decorated chapel called the Porziuncola (meaning “Little portion of land”) is the most sacred place for all the people and religious orders that adhere to the teachings and spiritual disciplines of Saint Francis of Assisi.
4. Relics from the grave of Virgin Mary
According to legend the Porziuncola chapel was erected between 352-366 by hermits from the Valley of Josaphat in Israel, who had brought relics from the grave of the Virgin Mary. The chapel passed into the possession of St. Benedict in 516 who gave it on to St. Francis in 1208 on condition of his making it the mother house of his religious family. The church has never since been abandoned by the Franciscan friars.
5. Calling St. Francis
When St. Francis received Porziuncola it was in bad condition, lying abandoned in a wood of oak trees. St. Francis restored it with his own hands after being visited by a mystical vision of Christ. It was in the Porziuncola Francis of Assisi understood his vocation and renounced the his father, his patrimony, and even his garments in order to live in poverty among the poor and thus started the Franciscan movement.
6. A special pardon
St. Francis asked the Pope to grant a special pardon to all sinners confessed, repented and acquitted who enter the Porziuncola chapel between the afternoon of 1 August and sunset on 2 August. Later the privilege of the Porziuncola Indulgence has been extended to all churches pertaining to the Franciscan Order.
7. Roses and turtle doves
From the sacristy of Santa Maria degli Angeli visitors can enter a rose garden which is the last remains of the ancient oak wood. In this place St Francis lived and talked to the turtle doves, inviting them to praise the Lord. Since then doves have been nesting in the hands of the statue of St. Francis in this rose garden.
The basilica in Santa Maria degli Angeli near Assisi
8. The miracle of the thorny bush
One night St. Francis felt a strong carnal temptation which induced him to roll naked in bramble thorns in an attempt to overcome his doubts. Upon contact with his body, the bramble bushes turned into dog roses without thorns. Even today a special thorn-less rose still grows in the garden.
9. St. Francis’ hut
St. Francis died in 1226 in a little hut serving as a primitive infirmary for the sick near the Porziuncola. The hut has been incorporated in the basilica as Cappella del Transito and above the small altar there is the rope of St. Francis.
10. Famous namesake
San Francisco in California was named after St Francis and here a 78% scale replica of the original Porziuncola Chapel has been built.
Other notes on Santa Maria degli Angeli Assisi and nearby places
Perugia guide to the best photo ops
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Italian Notes
I remember standing outside this church and being awed by the sheer size of it. Never did go inside, which I can see was a mistake. Would love to see the little chapel.
I make that mistake all the time too, which explains why I have to go back to the same places again and again.
Complimenti per il tuo blog! Ran accross italian notes on twitter. Great informative writing! I just added italian notes to my feed reader ;)
Thank you:)
I’m not religious but enjoy exploring basilicas/churches/chapels and learning about the history since so much of history is tied to religion in one way or another.
My views exactly.
I love visiting churches and basilicas and especially those with a rich history. I didn’t know all these details about St. Francis. I knew he was the patron saint of animals but all of this history and the church was fascinating. I will need to make it a point to visit the one in San Francisco.
I love the opening photo Mette – peeking through the tree boughs to see the dome and rooftop sculpture of Santa Maria degli Angeli Assisi – fantastic!
Yes is lights up the sky, even on a very grey and rainy day.
The tiny chapel is fascinating to see. One wonders what St. Francis, who practiced simplicity and humility, would make of such an immense Basilica but it is definitely one of the highlights of any visit to Assisi.
Indeed.
Your blog is fantastic!
I’m from Santa Maria degli Angeli and I’m proud to see a lot of people come here to visit the church and the Porziuncola.
I’d like to suggest you an 11th point: the name of Los Angeles, in California, is because of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Strange, isn’t it? :)
The complete name is in fact “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina Virgen de los Ángeles del Rio de la Porciúncula de Asís”.
Federico
Thanks so much for the kind words and for adding another interesting fact to my list of reasons to be fascinated by Santa Maria degli Angeli. I really must go back to Umbria some time soon:)
I was just there and was struck by how contrary to the life of St. Francis the cathedral was. What especially horrified me was the sight of the dove’s, which are tied to the next on the statue. I watched them and saw one of them try to get up. It was picking at the string that tied its leg to the nest. Then there’s the fake rose perfume they spray there to prove the miracle of the rosebush. It was all disturbing.
I find quite a lot of those religious tableaux unsettling, but you are absolutely right. The set-up in Santa Maria degli Angeli does seem rather ghastly.
“It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”
I very much doubt that my comment will be posted, but anyone involved in this display should be ashamed.
There’s no censoring in this case:)