Porziuncola Museum Santa Maria degli Angeli

The Porziuncola Museum is housed in the rooms that survived the construction of the great Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, thanks to the undertaking of some brothers in the early twentieth century.

The aim was to collect the various works of art, kept in different spaces of the Sanctuary at the time, into one single venue. During the 2000 Jubilee, a display tour was set up that followed the works in chronological order according to modern canons to retrace the history of the Franciscan community.

The museum is divided into six exhibition halls, each with its own theme: the Porziuncola in the pre-Franciscan period, the origins of Franciscan spirituality, the Porziuncola during the Franciscan Observance, the Virgin Mary at the Porziuncola, the Basilica designed by Alessi, the partial reconstruction in 1840 and the Ancient Convent.

Among the most significant works in the collection is the Crucifix by Giunta Pisano, dated approximately to 1236, believed to be the first example of a Crucifix showing Christ patiens in Italy on a monumental cross. His Christ in agony with his eyes closed and head reclining on his shoulder shows a body slumped under the weight of death. Another work worthy of note is the Madonna del Latte, an exquisite polychrome, stone sculpture dating back to the late 14th century, originally placed in the little shrine at the top of the Porziuncola’s façade.

The display route is also enriched with precious sacred vestments. One example is the glazed terracotta altar-front, created by Andrea della Robbia in around 1475. Restored in 1923 and used for temporary exhibitions of sacred art, the mediaeval Convent can also be visited today, that is what remains of the brothers’ ancient cells. 17 of these are named after the saints and the blessed, who stayed in the Porziuncola.