Convento di Renacavata

The Capuchin convent of Renacavata, near Camerino, is associated with the beginnings of the Capuchin reform. Pope Clement VII approved the new Franciscan family in 1528 through the bull Religionis Zelus, following the petition of Ludovico and Raffaele da Fossombrone and the support of Duchess Caterina Cybo.

Why it matters

Renacavata is closely linked to the early history of the Capuchins. The Camerino tradition recalls that local children called the friars by a name inspired by their pointed hoods, a word that became the order's name. From this first convent the movement spread beyond the region.

What to notice

The convent complex includes the church of the Purification of Mary, a title recorded from 1663, and the chapel's maiolica altarpiece attributed to Santi Buglioni and dated to about 1540. It depicts the Virgin and Child with Saints Francis and Agnes; Francis wears the distinctive Capuchin habit. The complex also includes the friars' library and a museum devoted to Capuchin history.

Context and history

After the 1528 papal approval, Caterina Cybo donated the buildings at Renacavata to the friars around 1529. The convent became an early centre of the order as it expanded through Italy and beyond. The site preserves this history through its architecture, religious art and the historical collections associated with the Capuchin community.