Reaching Toffia from Farfa Abbey, passing by the slopes of the Mount of Elci along the Via Farense and before the rocky outcrop on which Toffia stands, we find the convent-church of St. Alexander. The Church of St. Alexander in Toffia is dated to early 951, as attested in the farfense documentation, when granted to Adam and Tebaldus; during the eleventh century, in documents drawn up by Abbot Hugo I of Farfa, it is often mentioned as standing on a side of the via publica in Cerritum (Cerreto), near the Mount.
It is not known when exactly a Franciscan community settled ther, but in 1334 pastoral visit we can find it already reported; the Convent of St. Alexander in Toffia, as it is also reported in the 1658 pastoral visit, it is still “old place, and the Holy Seraphic Patriarch received”.
It was donated to our St. Francis of Assisi around 1218 – during its passage in Sabina on his way to Rome – and it is stated that “founded a secular Oratory, which was maintained until the disclosure of the sanctity of S. Bernardino, and later became the Society.”
The convent was suppressed under Innocent X (Pope from 1644 to 1655), and both properties and the revenues passed to the Seminary of Toffia, set up in 1637. The population, however, claimed the presence of religious figures, arguing that they remained “with the Archpriest only” , and repeatedly asked for the restablishment (letters to the Pope and a Cardinal are still nototrious), and finally, in 1671, the Abbot of Farfa returned the “convent of St. Alexander … the Conventual fathers”.
The Franciscans returned to St. Alexander until 1833 when – with all its assets and revenues – became a St. Valentine Convent of Poggio Mirteto’s domain; later, as the Town of Toffia had to collect interest from the convent of Poggio Mirteto, agreed to a transaction and January 17, 1843 “the Convent of St. Alexander, small land parcels together” was transferred to the Town of Toffia.
In the same act is stated “that with this sale of shields 24,09 Municipalities will never harass for purported compensation models“.
In the Historical Town of Toffia the two oldest convent registers are now preserved: a Book of Instrumenti (1773-1783) and a Land Registry (1730).
In the Mid- twentieth century, the convent remained “an arch without any room and shaft, and the small church with the roof part of the wall” ; in the 90s, after some restoration and modernization projects, the complex was used for exhibitions, conferences, cooperation projects and as a branch of the La Sapienza University.
It is currently contracted out to the non-profit National Association Against Injustices (ANCI).
On the facade – rectangular plan with an apse facing East – large pieces of a medival masonry are clearly visible, consisting of limestone bumps in regular size, arranged in rows.
Ceramics and a fragment of Roman column can be admired in front, while in the interior – very spoiled – you can see some frescoes: St. Anthony with gray suit, but with a hood to Conventual (very relevant for the apparel history, properly) and the image of St. Clare in the wall.
St. Alexander
Position
Via Farense, s.n.c.
02039 Toffia (RI)
Opening hours
Not visitable inside
Contacts
Tel.
Mail:
Reaching Toffia from Farfa Abbey, passing by the slopes of the Mount of Elci along the Via Farense and before the rocky outcrop on which Toffia stands, we find the convent-church of St. Alexander. The Church of St. Alexander in Toffia is dated to early 951, as attested in the farfense documentation, when granted to Adam and Tebaldus; during the eleventh century, in documents drawn up by Abbot Hugo I of Farfa, it is often mentioned as standing on a side of the via publica in Cerritum (Cerreto), near the Mount.
It is not known when exactly a Franciscan community settled ther, but in 1334 pastoral visit we can find it already reported; the Convent of St. Alexander in Toffia, as it is also reported in the 1658 pastoral visit, it is still “old place, and the Holy Seraphic Patriarch received”.
It was donated to our St. Francis of Assisi around 1218 – during its passage in Sabina on his way to Rome – and it is stated that “founded a secular Oratory, which was maintained until the disclosure of the sanctity of S. Bernardino, and later became the Society.”
The convent was suppressed under Innocent X (Pope from 1644 to 1655), and both properties and the revenues passed to the Seminary of Toffia, set up in 1637. The population, however, claimed the presence of religious figures, arguing that they remained “with the Archpriest only” , and repeatedly asked for the restablishment (letters to the Pope and a Cardinal are still nototrious), and finally, in 1671, the Abbot of Farfa returned the “convent of St. Alexander … the Conventual fathers”.
The Franciscans returned to St. Alexander until 1833 when – with all its assets and revenues – became a St. Valentine Convent of Poggio Mirteto’s domain; later, as the Town of Toffia had to collect interest from the convent of Poggio Mirteto, agreed to a transaction and January 17, 1843 “the Convent of St. Alexander, small land parcels together” was transferred to the Town of Toffia.
In the same act is stated “that with this sale of shields 24,09 Municipalities will never harass for purported compensation models“.
In the Historical Town of Toffia the two oldest convent registers are now preserved: a Book of Instrumenti (1773-1783) and a Land Registry (1730).
In the Mid- twentieth century, the convent remained “an arch without any room and shaft, and the small church with the roof part of the wall” ; in the 90s, after some restoration and modernization projects, the complex was used for exhibitions, conferences, cooperation projects and as a branch of the La Sapienza University.
It is currently contracted out to the non-profit National Association Against Injustices (ANCI).
On the facade – rectangular plan with an apse facing East – large pieces of a medival masonry are clearly visible, consisting of limestone bumps in regular size, arranged in rows.
Ceramics and a fragment of Roman column can be admired in front, while in the interior – very spoiled – you can see some frescoes: St. Anthony with gray suit, but with a hood to Conventual (very relevant for the apparel history, properly) and the image of St. Clare in the wall.