San Vigilio, University church in Siena, Italy

San Vigilio is a Renaissance and Baroque church on Via San Vigilio in Siena, with a sober classical brick facade and a richly decorated interior. Its nave ceiling carries fifteen panels by Raffaello Vanni showing the Last Judgment, and the chapels hold marble altars and sculptures by the Mazzuoli family and others.

Founded by the Ugurgieri family in the 11th century as a parish church, San Vigilio was given to the Camaldolese monks in 1131; their convent burned in 1153 and was rebuilt by 1231. The monks were expelled in 1420. In 1556 the church passed to the Jesuits, who rebuilt it from 1561 and remodelled it until 1775, giving it its present form. Suppressed in 1759, the Jesuits were followed by the Vallombrosans, who had Antonio Matteucci rebuild the facade in brick.

The church is named after Vigilius, bishop of Trento and martyr. Since 26 August 1991 it has housed the Cappella Universitaria di Siena, erected by archbishop Gaetano Bonicelli for students from Italy and abroad, and a community of Suore Figlie della Chiesa serves there. The former monastery now holds the central offices of the University of Siena.

The chapel sits at the intersection of Via San Vigilio and Via Sallustio Bandini near the university campus. Access is straightforward, and it helps to check opening hours before your visit.

Under the main altar's mensa lie relics of martyr saints, believed to have been brought from Japan by the Jesuits. The altarpiece above is Mattia Preti's Glory of St Ignatius, flanked by Francesco Vanni canvases of Stanislaus Kostka and Aloysius Gonzaga.