The ancient convent of San Giacomo originally began as a hospice to welcome and provide rest for pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena. Established outside the first city walls around the mid-12th century, it was founded thanks to the presence of the knightly Order of the Tau of Altopascio, which was active throughout central and northern Italy.

The original layout was much smaller than today: the church and hospital were likely connected and protected by a perimeter wall.

In the 16th century, the old hospital was converted into a cloistered convent associated with the Augustinian order, with a new church constructed and consecrated in 1641. The ancient hall, now restored at the back of the church of San Giacomo and separated from it by a simple wall and an elegant metal grate, allowed the nuns to attend services and celebrations, giving us a small insight into the life of the monastery.

Restorations completed in 2023 allow for a clearer view of the large hall, where one can identify the levels of the ancient floors, traces of the building’s architectural evolution, and small sections of decorative wall paintings.