Like many churches, even that of the Madonna of the people Madonna del Popolo was built on a former pagan temple in this case dedicated to the goddess Libitina, an ancient deity who was in charge of attending the rites of the dead and the funeral.
In the Middle Ages the church was dedicated to Santa Maria in Cryptis and the first historical references date back to 1348 and tell of a promise made by the people of Anagni to the Madonna. In exchange for help and protection from the great bubonic plague of that year, the people would build a church.
The church was then destroyed in the Spanish attack by the Duke of Alba during the war between the papacy and Philip II of Spain. Anagni was in fact the seat of the papal troops and was taken and plundered by the Spaniards in 1556.
In 1619 it was rebuilt as a thank you for the escaped plague epidemic of 1608, as recounted by the painting behind the high altar.
After another period of decline, the municipality restored the church in 1737 in a project by the architect Manuel Rodriguez dos Santos. The municipality financed the work as shown by the large coat of arms just above the entrance door.
The current facade dates back to 1837 and was realized once again as a thank you for an escaped danger, this time from cholera.
Today the church is closed and part of the convent is occupied by civic associations.
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