Santa Maria d'Orsoleo, intended for the Observant Franciscan Friars, was built in 1474 by Eligio II della Marra, the Prince of Stigliano and Count of Aliano, expanding upon a previous 12th-century chapel.
The ancient wooden statue of the Madonna of Orsoleo, possibly from the 13th century, is still venerated today and celebrated every year on September 8th. The church that houses it, attached to the complex and lavishly adorned, features a notable wooden choir behind the main altar. Among the sculpted figures, there is also a Madonna with Child seated amidst branches of a tree, with a bear and a lion at her feet.
Various additions made over the years improved the structure, making it increasingly rich. The complex, which never lacked resources, thanks in part to generous donations, was once equipped with a library, a pharmacy, a mill, an oven, an ice house, an olive press, and two cisterns. The rooms were also enriched by a cycle of frescoes by the Lucanian painter Giovanni Todisco di Abriola, depicting episodes from the lives of saints and Christ, such as the Adoration of the Magi, which bears the painter's signature, as well as scenes of the Triumph of Death and Faith.
The nearby Torre Molfese, located along the road leading to the monastery, is believed to have originally served as a watchtower to protect travelers on their way to the convent.
The suppression of the monastic orders in 1861 led to the definitive decline and gradual abandonment of the entire complex.
The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.