Room La Basilica

The Basilica of imposing size (it is the seventh in order of size among the Christian churches) was however necessary to be able to welcome the masses of pilgrims visiting the Porziuncola, the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, which St. Francis received as a gift from the Benedictines of Subasio and that became the nucleus of the first convent. Pope Pius IV had the construction started in 1569, based on a design by Galeazzo Alessi, which however lasted until 1667 (dome). During the earthquake of 1832 the vault of the central nave collapsed, partly also that of the aisle. The facade, which was first renovated in a neoclassical style, was rebuilt in neo-Baroque style in 1928.