The church has very ancient origins, probably before the year 1000, and has a curious history...
In 1360, the conflict between the Savoy and Achaia families led to the almost complete destruction of the town of Savigliano, including the church. When the church was rebuilt, however, the town's urban layout changed, and the need to turn the church upside down seemed to be the only option: where the apses used to be, the façade was obtained, and the current apses were built in place of the façade. This is the reason for the unusual presence of the bell tower on the façade.
However, the church suffered further damage at the hands of the French, who used it as a hospital in the seventeenth century, so restoration work continued and in the eighteenth century it was decided to add a new presbytery, a choir and a high altar. The current five-nave layout is the work of architect Vay, who not only designed the new, raised bell tower, but also completed the majestic façade.
The church soon took on the title of "collegiate church". The only vestige of the original building is the chapel of St. Nicholas located at the base of the bell tower, which houses numerous frescoes, including one of the oldest paintings in Savigliano dating back to the 13th century: the fresco depicts an enthroned Virgin and Child.
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