A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb.

The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Most other existing buildings were built within the 16th century. Today they are used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood"), a community founded in Umbria by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815.