In Roman times the area was sacred to the goddess of fertility and virginity Bona Dea.

[1] The most important of the abbey buildings still extant is its church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, whose construction began in 1208 with the transept and the apse.

The edifice remained partly unfinished, due to financial and political troubles within the order.

The church is built on the Latin Cross plan, with the nave ending in an apse housing the high altar.

The interior is very sober, apart from the richly decorated tabernacle and Paschal candle in Gothic style.