This is a conventual church in Umbrian-Gothic style, dating back to the first quarter of the 14th century. The church’s façade is made of sandstone, and the section from the portal up to the attic slightly protrudes compared to the rest of the surface, as do the two angular buttresses that frame and enclose the sides of the façade. The entrance portal is in Gothic style, with a splayed arch and twisted columns, a motif that continues into the pointed arch. Above the entrance, a thin horizontal cornice divides the façade into two levels.
The church has a rectangular floor plan, with the presbytery area raised above the floor level and covered by a cross vault, while the rest of the church has a wooden truss roof, decorated with pilasters and white moldings. The high altar, placed against the back wall, consists of a Baroque canopy with purple columns and white stucco drapery decorations. Of particular interest is the Renaissance entrance vestibule by Sansovino (1525), featuring two superimposed orders of Ionic arcades in pietra serena. The first order consists of three round arches resting on fluted columns with Ionic capitals, while above it is a second order of three round arches resting on two pillars. The second order of the entrance vestibule is covered by three small cross vaults. Baldassarre Peruzzi designed a plan to divide the church into three squares covered by domes, but this idea was never realized.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the church was raised by about two meters; eight stucco altars were built, the single-light windows were walled up, and new spaces were opened in the attic. The work was entrusted to master Angelo Massa.
In 1826, the church began to be expanded in the presbytery area. To make room for the new high altar and presbytery, part of the convent was demolished, and in 1830, the same fate befell the bell gable, which was replaced by a tower bell.
In 1930, four stucco altars were demolished, and two frescoes were uncovered. Some putti and festoons were removed from the remaining altars.
**Description:** The object believed to be miraculous is a 16th-century canvas depicting the Virgin and Child. The Virgin stands with her right arm raised, holding a staff, while her left hand holds the Child, who stands beside her, reaching out his arms toward her. On the left side of the painting, a kneeling woman prays, while on the right, a devil attempts to grab the child. The work was commissioned from Niccolò Saggi by the Women’s Company of Monte San Savino during the 1523 plague. The canvas remained in the attic of the former Sant’Agostino convent until October 1994 and is still in poor condition. This likely happened because devotion to this Madonna declined in the 18th century in favor of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio. The altar and its associated painting are mentioned in pastoral visits from 1583 until the late 18th century. From 1700 onward, devotion to the Madonna del Buon Consiglio, an 18th-century canvas brought to the church by Augustinian friar Agostino Soccini from Bagnone, is documented. The image was crowned in 1729, and the Virgin’s crown bears the inscription of the Roman Camerale from the same year. The painting is now located on the first altar on the right.
**In use since:** 1523
**Image:** Painting
**Description:** This is the Madonna del Buonconsiglio, an 18th-century canvas brought to the church by Augustinian father Agostino Soccini from Bagnone. It depicts the Virgin with the Child gently resting his cheek against his Mother’s face, as if listening to her words. The painting is currently placed on the first altar on the right in the church. The image was crowned with a golden crown in 1729. The crown bears the inscription of the Roman Camerale, attesting that it was granted by decree of the Vatican Chapter.
**In use between:** 1700 and 1799
**Image:** Painting
**Collection of ex-votos:** No
**Current preservation:** No ex-votos currently exist.
This is an altar inside the parish church of Saints Egidio and Savino in the Sant’Agostino complex, where a miraculous altarpiece was once venerated. It is now kept in the sacristy.
On July 24, 1859, the church of Sant’Agostino was reconsecrated after the completion of work that had been ongoing since 1826. This entry was compiled by Stefano Meacci and Isabella Gagliardi.
Following the Napoleonic suppression, the Augustinians were removed from the church.
The small sanctuary was also under the patronage of the Confraternity of the Centurions and Centuriates of Santa Monica. The patronage ended with the suppression of the confraternities in 1808.
52048 Monte San Savino AR, Italy
