The original church of San Donato was part of a Benedictine abbey that  stood on the banks of the Flea, [in a suburb now known as Valle di Sopra].  According to tradition, the bodies of those who died in the fire that destroyed the first walled settlement of Gualdo in 1237 were buried here.

ANO. DNI. MILLECCLV. tp. AL. IIII

1255 AD, at the time of Pope Alexander IV

The abbey passed in commendam at some time in the 15th century, although the church continued to serve the parish. 

In 1766, the commendatory abbot of San Donato opposed a request by the friars of San Francesco to move the relics of the Blessed Martius from San Rocco (which was at that time under his administration) to San Francesco.  They thwarted his intention to translate them to San Donato by taking them, without authorisation, to their church.

The complex passed to the Seminario di Nocera Umbra at the end of the 18th century.  The adjacent abbey no longer survives.

The ceiling collapsed in 1914 and the interior of the church had to be completely restored.

Exterior

The campanile was originally much higher but was damaged in the earthquake of 1751.  

The aqueduct that was built during the legation of Cardinal Antonio Ciocchi del Monte (1513-1533) feeds the fountain on the left wall.

Interior

The altars of the church were moved here from the suppressed church of Sant’ Agostino in 1922.

Crucifixion with saints (17th century)