S. Chiara
Community ID: 
 
592
 
Town: 
 
Urbino
 
Diocese: 
 
Urbino
 
Region: 
 
Marche
 
Corporate Status: 
 
Abbey
 
Dedication: 
 
Santa Chiara
 
Date Founded: 
 
1483 (circa)
 
Date Terminated: 
 
1810 (14 July), by Napoleon. Restored after 4 years, but supressed again in 1860 when the Piedmontese occupied Umbria and Marche
 
Foundation Information: 
 

Finished in 1484 and dedicated to S. Chiara.

 
First Members: 
 

Eliazbeth, daughter of Federico, the Duke of Urbino and widow of Roberto Malatesta (see "Patrons/Benefactors," below).

 
Notable Heads: 
 

First abbess was Cecilia Coppoli.

 
Notable Members/Residents/Guests: 
 

Elizabeth Malatesta from Pesaro; S. Battista (Camilla) Varani [daughter of Duke Julius Ceasar Varani]; Constanzia and Francesca Varani; Emerenziana Colonna Romana; Chiara Cappelli Veneziana; Bernardine Baglioni Perugina

 
Population Counts: 
 

1484: 8 sisters

 
Priveleges & Papal Exemptions: 
 

Letter from Innocent VIII, dated June 3, 1487, written to Elizabeth, a professed nun, in which the pope explains why she had to be content with the supervisor of the monastery, Pietro Gentile Hercule Vanano.

 
Patrons/Benefactors: 
 

Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of Urbino and widow of Roberto Malatesta, used her dowry to build S. Chiara and retired there, remaining until her death.

 
Social Characteristics: 
 

Sisters came from the best families.

 
Literary Works: 
 

"Orationes et Epistola" written by Constanzia Verano, daughter of Pierre Gentile Varano.

 
Architecture & Archaeology: 
 

Architecture is attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Martini (although some attribute it to Bramente or to Girolamo Genga). Important people buried in the cemetery: Duke Francesco Maria I and his wife Elanor Gonzaga, and Battista Sforza, wife of Frederico.

 
Manuscript Sources: 
 

454, misc. vol. II, 127-128; 138-199.

 
Published Primary Sources: 
 

Life of S. Battista written by Bernardino Lily, __diary,__ 1522-27. p. 28.

 
Secondary Sources: 
 

Monasteri benedettini nella Diocesi di Urbino dal secolo IX al XV

Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés, 3243

 
Contributors: 
 
Suzanne Wemple-Kinder; Marie Kelleher
 
Date Started: 
 
1483
 
Date Finished: 
 
1810
 
Length: 
 
1055