Dedicated to St. Benedict of Nursia, a first church at the site was completed in April 1334, endowed by the noblewoman Alemanna Lumella. However, like most buildings in town, it was razed by the 1693 Sicily earthquake; only 5 nuns survived the disaster. The church was rebuilt by 1714, but construction of the monastery continued until 1763. Giovanni Battista Vaccarini was one of the main architects. The church is part of a monastic complex including also the Badia Maggiore and the Badia Minore, connected by a covered arch ("Arco delle Monache Benedettinne") over the road, allowing for the cloistered nuns to cross.