Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Saint Mary of the Angels) in Assisi, Umbria, central Italy.

The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Saint Mary of the Angels) is a church situated in the plain at the foot of the hill of Assisi, Italy, in the frazione of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

The basilica was constructed in the Mannerist style between 1569 and 1679 enclosing the 9th century little church, the Porziuncola, the most sacred place for the Franciscans. It was here that the young Francis of Assisi understood his vocation and renounced the world in order to live in poverty among the poor and thus started the Franciscan movement.

After the death of Saint Francis in 1226, the friars built several small huts around the Porziuncola. In 1230 a refectory and some adjacent buildings were added. In the course of time little porticoes and accommodations for the friars were added around the Porziuncola.

more on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_Basilica_of_Saint_Mary_of_the_Angels_in_Assisi , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_degli_Angeli_(Assisi)

picture generously provided by Rudolf Kaufmann (2015)