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Dipartimento di Studi linguistici e Culturali, Museo GEMMA | Department of Studies on Language and Culture, GEMMA Museum 171

The origins of the monastery are uncertain: according to the tradition,
since year 681, in the place where the Monastery of St. Euphemia
would later be built, a pious widow with seven daughters founded a
retreat or hospice for women who had joined together for a devout
life based on St. Benedict’s rule. The date is written in an inscription
placed in the monastery complex in 1646 and reminds us of the cele-
bration of the millenary anniversary of the monastery in 1681.
The small hospice of devoted women became a real monastery in just
150 years, the increasing income of which shows the political and in-
stitutional weight gained through bequests and vows. The monastery
probably also went through a period of decline at the end of the 13th
century, due to a bad management of the assets. Pope Nicholas III re-
solved the issue in 1277 by instructing the archpriest of the Cathedral
to recover the assets sold.
At the beginning of the 14th century, the monastery integrated in the
city gave its name to a Silver coin of the value of 50 Reals, and after the
economic crisis of the mid-13th century it was given back to the Bish-
op, as it is reported that the appointment of the Abbess of the mon-
astery required the Bishop’s approval: this occurred both in 1317 and
1333. The newly appointed abbess took the oath before the bishop,
undertaking not to cause damage to him, not to tell his secrets, not to
sell the properties of the monastery without the bishop’s authorisation.
Fragments of the pastoral visits made by Aldobrandino d’Este in 1359
report the condition of the monastery throughout the 19 century: at
th
that time, the monastery was in a good condition. Although, on anoth-
er visit occurred before 1370, it was reported that the number of the
nuns had lowered and the monastery had incurred debts.
In the 15th century, the crisis was healing thanks to an increasing num-
ber of nuns who had brought dowries and donations with them.
In the first half of the 17th century, the monastery grew considerably:
as reported in the Community Acts filed at the Municipal Historical

Entrance of the Department of Humanities and Cultural Studies, former Monastery of St. Euphemia, Modena Il complesso di Sant’Eufemia, Modena The Complex of St. Euphemia, Modena