San Bernardino da Siena ai Monti is a 17th century former convent church in rione Monti (I), dedicated to St Bernardino of Siena, a 15th century Franciscan. Due to its location on Via Panisperna it is sometimes referred to as San Bernardino in Panisperna. Today it is the only church in Rome of this name.
For reference, a plan of the church is available
here.
The church was erected on the ruins of an ancient monastery and oratory dedicated to St Venera (or Veneranda). A community of Franciscan Tertiary nuns were established at the end of the 15th century. Their church was demolished, and so the nuns needed a new home. Construction was started here in the late 15th century under Pope Clement VIII, and the church was consecrated in 1623.
In 1656 Pietro Paolo Caroli left an inheritance to his sister, Sister Maria Chiara, to pay for a new apse and altar. During the 17th century the church was decorated with stucco and faux marble painting.
During the French occupation of Rome (1808-1813) the monastery was closed and the nuns had to abandon their convent. It was restored by Pope Pius VII in 1823, but when it was sequestered by the Italian government after 1870. The monastary became a girl's school, and various orders apparently used the church until 1910, when the building was sold. From then on the church was served by diocesan clergy.
In 1967 it was finally restored properly. There was another restoration on the façade in 1992, and some more work done on the side elevation in the early 21st century. The responsibility for the church now belongs to the clergy of the parish of Santa Maria dei Monti.
In 1999 a native Taiwanese priest, belonging to the Franciscan Conventuals, began a ministry here to expatriate Chinese people in Rome.
