The Church of San Fedele belongs to Villa Fidelia and is accessed from Via Centrale Umbra, a few metres before the entrance to the Villa, or through the secondary entrance located next to the visitors centre. It was built on the site of an older sacred structure that could be identified with the temple of the Gens Flavia (of Constantine’s Flavian dynasty), the dedication of which was permitted by the celebrated Rescript of Constantine (ca. 335 AD).
According to Taddeo Donnola this was the site of the martyrdom of San Fedele, the saint who lends his name to the church and the Villa, while tradition has it that the body of San Felice, the patron saint of Spello and Giano of Umbria was laid to rest here.
When the area of Villa Fidelia was purchased by the engineer Decio Costanzi, the church also underwent modification under the architect Cesare Bazzani: it was made shorter and a pretty façade was added. It was reopened for worship on 11th May 1935.
The interior of San Fedele has changed compared with its original appearance and today it is bare and in a state of neglect. On the left wall there are signs of the detachment of a fresco, while on the opposite wall there is a fresco of San Felice from the 16th century.
In 1911 the church, which then belonged to the Foligno-born Sante Ubaldi, was first restored and later reopened for worship; we know from chronicles of the time that the event was celebrated with a large procession that, accompanied by the sound of the bells, arrived in San Fedele from the church of San Lorenzo.
It was also the custom of the mothers to go to the patron saint to pray for a cure for their sick children: there were in fact numerous votive offerings, attesting to favours received.