This church stands on what was the site of the Ospedale Nuovo di Sant’ Agostino (which was also known as the Ospedale dei SS Vittore e Vittorino).  In 1505, the hospice was closed when Pope Julius II formed the “Spedale Grande”. 

The bull that approved the formation of Spedale Grande also approved the transfer of the site  to a community of female Franciscan tertiaries.  They subsequently adopted the Rule of the Poor Clares and became subject to the spiritual guidance of the friars of San Girolamo.

The nuns transferred to San Girolamo (the hermitage on Mount Ansciano that now belongs to Poor Clares of Santa Chiara, Assisi) in 2000, exchanging homes with the Comunità di Capodarco dell’ Umbria (Centro Comunitario Gesù Risorto).  (This voluntary organisation, which is dedicated to helping disabled people and others marginalised in society, had previously rented San Girolamo but found it inconvenient for their purposes, so the nuns of SS Trinità agreed somewhat reluctantly to the exchange).

Church

Although the church was radically remodelled in the 18th century, its façade contains original elements. 

Burial of Christ (1562)

This lunette-shaped panel in the choir, which is signed by Benedetto Nucci and dated by inscription, depicts the moment when the body of Christ was placed in the coffin.  Nicodemus holds the head of Christ, St Mary Magdalene and the Virgin each holds one of His hands, and the scene is witnessed by St John the Evangelist, two pious women and Joseph of Arimithea.  A copy of this panel in the Pinacoteca Civica is also attributed to Benedetto Nucci.

Painted Crucifix (early 17th century)

This panel of Christ on the cross in the choir is attributed to Virgilio Nucci.

SS Joseph, Clare and Margaret of Cortona (18th century)

[Check if the altarpiece (ca. 1655) of St Elizabeth of Hungary by/attributed to Francesco Allegrini is still in SS Trinità]

Art from the Church

Altarpiece (16th century)

This composite altarpiece is in the Pinacoteca Civica.  The “Noli me tangere” is depicted above, and SS Francis and Clare flank a tabernacle below.

God the Father and Chiara Isabella Gherzi (19th century)

The nuns took this panel with them when they moved to San Girolamo.  It commemorates Chiara Isabella Gherzi, who had been abbess at SS Trinità at the time of her death in 1800, and whom the nuns regarded as a saint.  In this panel, she demonstrates to a group of nuns that God is pleased with two putti, one of whom holds the lily of chastity and one of whom has instruments of penance.