Assisi Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels (Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli)

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, Italy, is a remarkable example of architectural layering, with a grand basilica built over and around the tiny 13th-century Porziuncola, a humble stone chapel. This small, unassuming structure was where St. Francis founded his order and established the first Franciscan community. The basilica, one of the largest in the world, envelops the Porziuncola, creating a unique and powerful contrast between the monumental and the modest. Visitors today can explore this sacred space, experiencing the simplicity of the original chapel within the grandeur of the surrounding basilica.