Mentioned for the first time in 1061, in those years the Church of San Frediano had annexed a hospice to welcome pilgrims and the indigent. Between 1076 and 1561 the complex passed to the military Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen, who used it as a burial ground. In 1784, following the suppression of the convent by the Lorena family, the church became a parish, and today it functions as a university church.
The current facade, dated between the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century, is the result of the restoration of 1964, aimed at recovering the medieval appearance of the building, remodeled several times during the modern age, especially with the reconstruction of the central nave and the apse following the fire of 1675.
The quadrangular bell tower, now incorporated into modern buildings, appears to be made in the 13th century, while the internal space, with a basilica plan, is punctuated by columns with capitals of the 11th century, sculpted with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic elements. Of particular interest is a cross with scenes of the passion, painted on a panel with a gold leaf background from the 12th century, restored in 1970 thanks to the removal of more recent paintings.
Events
Mentioned for the first time in 1061, in those years the Church of San Frediano had annexed a hospice to welcome pilgrims and the indigent. Between 1076 and 1561 the complex passed to the military Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen, who used it as a burial ground. In 1784, following the suppression of the convent by the Lorena family, the church became a parish, and today it functions as a university church.
