A Benedictine nunnery was established here at an unknown date.  It was dependent on St Peter’s, Rome.  It was united with another nunnery, Santa Maria Maddalena in ca. 1368, when this second nunnery was demolished to facilitate the building of new city walls.  Its church was destroyed by fire in 1394, although traces of it survive in the nunnery.

[Subsequent history?]

The community was suppressed in 1816, at which point the convent was converted into a female orphanage.

Madonna and Child with Saints (17th century)

This altarpiece on the high altar of the church is attributed to Lazzaro Baldi.  It depicts the Madonna and Child with SS Benedict and Mary Magdalene.  The baby Jesus reaches towards a cross held by angels, and St Mary Magdalene kisses his foot.

Art from the Church

Detached fresco (early 14th century)

This fresco, which is now on the wall at the entrance to the Pinacoteca, is from the nunnery of Santa Croce.  It is attributed to the Maestro del Crocifisso di Trevi, and depicts the Crucifixion, with the Madonna and Child on the left and the Annunciation on the right. 

Triptych (early 15th century)

                                                                                                                                 Detail: Crucifixion

The triptych, which is attributed to Giovanni di Corraduccio Mazzaforte, came from the nunnery of Santa Croce.   The scenes depict the Coronation of the Virgin and the Annunciation (in the top register) and numerous scenes from the life of Christ.  SS Agnes, Emilianus, Jerome and John the Baptist are on the reverse of the folding wings.  An inscription commemorates the donors, Cicco Urighi and Jacobuccio di Mattia.  The Commune blocked the attempted sale of the triptych in 1839, and it was moved to the Pinacoteca in 1867.