History: The friary of Venafro was opened in 1573 by Fr. Giovanni Maria of Tusa at the behest of the town council and inhabitants. It was built beside an existing small church erected on the site of the martyrdom of Saints Nicandro, Daria and Marciano.
The church has the title of Basilica because it contains the relics of these martyrs and who are the patron saints of the city. Venafro is a joint cathedral town with Isernia. In this friary two provincial chapters were held, in 1578 and 1586. In the church can be seen the magnificent inlay decorations of the friar, Bro. Bernardino of Mentone. In 1911, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina stayed here for a short while (from the end of October to 7 December) and experienced different mystical phenomena described by Fr. Agostino of San Marco in Lamis in his diary.