The Pontifical Teutonic Institute Santa Maria dell' Anima is located in the vicinity of Piazza Navona.
S. Maria dell' Anima, the German national church and hospice in Rome, received its name, according to tradition, from the picture of Our Lady which forms its coat of arms (the Blessed Virgin between two souls).
[1] It was erected on its present site in 1386, when Johannes (Jan) Peters of Dodrecht, officer of the Papal Guard, and his wife Katharina bought three houses and turned them into a private hospice for pilgrims.
The college of priests, dates back to the year 1496, and was founded by Johann Burchard of Strasburg, the Master of Papal Ceremonies, and provost of the Confraternity of Santa Maria dell'Anima.
It was while he held the office of Praefectus fabricae that the decision was taken to rebuild the church of Santa Maria dell'Anima as part of the celebration of the Jubilee of 1500.
They devoted themselves chiefly to canon law with a view to employing their knowledge in the service of their respective dioceses; and they receive living and tuition gratis.
The two years' residence in the college afforded special opportunities for the study of canon law in theory at the Papal universities, and in practice under the higher church officials.
The college continued to assist poor Germans who come to Rome, either to visit the holy places or in search of employment.