The origins of this structure and the buildings are complicated. A primitive chapel of San Lorenzo was present on a nearby hill of Poggio di Cennano, attached to the castle overlooking Montevarchi. In the 13th century, the donations of various lords of the region led to the translation of the college of canons to the town. One partially legendary tradition is that in 1266, the Count Guido Guerra VI donated the putative relic of the
Sacro Latte (holy breast milk of the Madonna). By 1283, the bas relief depicting the
Martyrdom of St Lawrence had been completed. Construction of the larger church was begun in 1327, with the main altar completed in 1360. This structure however was entirely changed with the
Baroque refurbishment of the church at the start of the 18th-century architect
Massimiliano Soldani Benzi, who was commissioned by his brother, Angiolo Domenico, who by 1706 was serving as provost of the Collegiata. In the slender and tall 15th-century bell-tower located between the church and canonry, is a statue of St Lawrence. The interior of the church has frescoes depicting the
Life of St Lawrence by Camillo Sagrestani and the dome frescoed by
Matteo Bonechi, depicts the
Assumption of the Virgin. Above the main altarpiece is a remarkable baroque sculpture with the
Madonna and child in glory with angels, and angels opening a faux curtain made of marble by
Giovanni Baratta. The church holds the remains of the blessed
Maria Teresa Scrilli. One of the side altarpieces depicts the
Madonna in Glory between Saints Lawrence and Macario (circa 1590) by
Giovanni Balducci. Another altarpiece, translated here from the suppressed church of San Ludovico, is a depiction of the
Adoration of the Magi (1610) by
Matteo Rosselli. ==Museo d'Arte Sacra==