Santa Maria degli Angeli
Italy
After discovering the most of Assisi, you will head about ten minutes away to the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It is located about two and a half miles (four kilometers) from the city center. Your guide will lead you into Santa Maria degli Angeli, but it is actually more famous for another much smaller building inside - “Porziuncola.” This very small, stone chapel once housed Saint Francis and his followers, and it is where he started the Franciscan order. Now, you will see the Porziuncola has been decorated in Gothic style frescoes, glorifying the small building. Enjoy some time to appreciate the beauty and importance of “Porziuncola.”
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, an architectural masterpiece that serves as a literal bridge between the grandeur of Imperial Rome and the artistic genius of the Renaissance. This structure is…
Listen in the app2Michelangelo’s Conversion of the Frigidarium
The core of the Basilica’s architectural identity is Michelangelo's transformation of the Roman Frigidarium, or cold room. In the Roman bathing ritual, this was the final and most magnificent of the central halls. …
Listen in the app3The Eight Colossal Monolithic Columns
The most striking physical features of the transept are the eight massive monolithic columns made of red granite from Egypt. These pillars are not mere decorations; they are the original structural supports of the Roman hall. …
Listen in the app4The Meridian Line and Solar Clock
Embedded in the floor of the transept is one of the most remarkable scientific instruments in Rome: the Meridian Line, or 'Clementine Line.' Commissioned by Pope Clement XI in 1702 and designed by the astronomer and archaeologist…
Listen in the app5Vanvitelli’s 18th-Century Transformations
While Michelangelo provided the core design, the Basilica we see today was significantly altered in 1749-1750 by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli. Tasked with preparing the church for the Holy Year of 1750, Vanvitelli added many of…
Listen in the app6The Tepidarium Vestibule and Notable Tombs
Before entering the main transept, visitors pass through a circular vestibule which was once the Roman Tepidarium, or lukewarm room. This space serves as an introductory chamber, housing several significant tombs and monuments. …
Listen in the app7The Sacristy and Original Roman Remnants
For a deeper look into the ancient foundations of the church, a visit to the Sacristy is essential. Located off the left transept, this area contains sections of the original Roman structure that have been left in their raw state. …
Listen in the app8Closing
Our exploration of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri has revealed a space where the past is not merely remembered, but actively inhabited. We have moved from the colossal engineering of the Roman Baths of Diocletian to the…
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What is Santa Maria degli Angeli?
Santa Maria degli Angeli is a place in Italy with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 43.0590, 12.5794 |
| Last updated |