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The edifice made a very good spectacle, being of great extent,
and standing on a double row of high and narrow arches, on which it is
built up from the declivity of the hill.
We soon reached the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, which is a modern
structure, and very spacious, built in place of one destroyed by an
earthquake. It is a fine church, opening out a magnificent space in its
nave and aisles; and beneath the great dome stands the small old chapel,
with its rude stone walls, in which St. Francis founded his order. This
chapel and the dome appear to have been the only portions of the ancient
church that were not destroyed by the earthquake. The dwelling of St.
Francis is said to be also preserved within the church; but we did not
see it, unless it were a little dark closet into which we squeezed to see
some frescos by La Spagna. It had an old wooden door, of which U----
picked off a little bit of a chip, to serve as a relic. There is a
fresco in the church, on the pediment of the chapel, by Overbeck,
representing the Assumption of the Virgin.


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