According to legend Charlemagne was travelling over the Umbrail Pass, having been crowned as King of the Lombards, when he was caught in a snowstorm. He came away unharmed and in gratitude founded the convent of St. John; the stucco statue in the church is a testimony to this. Built originally as a monastery, the complex has housed a convent of nuns since the 12th century. Since its foundation over 1200 years ago, the convent has always been lived in.In its over 1200 years of existence the convent was never completely destroyed and always only partially altered. The building complex we see today is a conglomeration of buildings of varying styles and different eras that fit together and intermingle. The church and chapel of the Holy Cross date from the time of the foundation (8th century).