Portiuncula Church

Address: Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Porziuncola), Piazza Porziuncola 1, Assisi, Italy

Admission: Free entry (church)

Portiuncula, commonly called the Porziuncola, is a small medieval chapel preserved within the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli near Assisi in Umbria, Italy. It is the foundational sanctuary of the Franciscan Order and a central pilgrimage site for Franciscan history.

The tiny chapel itself is the primary focus for visitors; it sits inside a much larger 16th-century basilica that was constructed to protect the chapel and accommodate pilgrims. The site is visited both for its direct association with St. Francis and for liturgical events and displays on Franciscan heritage.

St. Francis of Assisi used and restored the chapel in the early 13th century, and it served as a base for the early Franciscan community. Over subsequent centuries the site retained religious importance and was enclosed by the present basilica to safeguard the original chapel and support increasing pilgrimage.

The Porziuncola is located within the plain below Assisi and is approached from the town by road; the basilica complex is a short drive from Assisi’s historic centre and is a common stop on pilgrim and tourist itineraries.

• Annual observance: August 2 is the day traditionally associated with the Portiuncula Indulgence, an annual Franciscan observance that draws pilgrims to the chapel.

What to See#

• Porziuncola chapel: The Porziuncola is a small, simple chapel dating to earlier medieval periods and preserved within the larger basilica; it is the site most closely associated with St. Francis and the founding activity of the Franciscan Order.
• Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli: The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli is the large 16th-century church built to enclose and protect the Porziuncola; it provides visitor access, religious services and museum displays related to Franciscan history.

The Portiuncula (Santa Maria degli Angeli) is in the village of Santa Maria degli Angeli just south of Assisi. Take a train to Assisi (the station is in Santa Maria degli Angeli) - the basilica is about 1 km (10-15 minute walk) from the station. By car it is reachable from Perugia (about 25 km) via the SS75 road (Centrale Umbra), roughly a 25-35 minute drive.

• Go early (off-peak and outside major pilgrimage dates) to enjoy the tiny Porziuncola chapel inside the huge Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli before crowds arrive; the contrast between the little chapel and the basilica is the site's main experiential highlight.
• Avoid Aug 2 (the Pardon of Assisi) if you want to dodge large pilgrimage crowds; check basilica mass times beforehand if you prefer quiet visiting periods.
• Explore the basilica's surrounding chapels and the area around the Porziuncola-many visitors focus only on the small chapel and miss the context provided by the larger building.