Tradition has it that San Francesco (Saint Francis of Assisi) stayed in Massa Marittima for a while and promoted there the birth of a first group of friars.
Documents have revealed that the Franciscans began to reside here since the half of the XIII century, when the construction of the convent was initiated. The convent was originally placed within the city walls.
Of the ancient building of the Church only the apse and partly the nave have remained.
Inside the Church are the sepulchres of Bindoccio, son of Margherita Aldobrandeschi, and Nello Pannocchieschi di Pietra, who, by tradition, was the husband of Pia dei Tolomei.