The Church of San Domenico was founded on November 22, 1292, according to the land donation documents, and entrusted to the Dominican friars (the Order of Preachers). Its eastern side rests upon the remains of a Roman residential building. Construction spanned many years; a document from 1440 records that Pope Eugene IV granted indulgences to raise funds for the building work, which was still "imperfecta" (incomplete) at the time. It is likely that the structure also underwent some modifications during this period, with completion finally reached in 1474.