The chapel, created by taking over the front part of the old sacristy, was ordered built by Niccolò Bensi in 1466 to hold the sacred head of Saint Catherine, the most important and valuable of her relics, which was brought to Siena after her death.

Catherine died in Rome on 29 April 1380 and was buried in the cemetery of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, but soon afterwards, because the cemetery was . . .