The construction, committed by Bonifacio VIII, began in 1296 but was only terminated in 1420.Today’s appearance is due to the reconstruction performed in the years1479-1483 and ordered by Jacopo di Pietrasanta and Sebastiano Fiorentino. In 1756 Luigi Vanvitelli completely transformed the interior of the church and modified the fifteenth-century bell tower. 

The facade, typical example of Roman renaissance architecture and preceded by a wide staircase, presents a large portal with a triangular gable in the lower part. To the sides there are two minor portals with round windows on top. The upper part holds a circular window and a framed triangular gable. 

The interior is divided into three naves and has five chapels on each side. On the right of the central portal one finds the “Madonna del Parto” by Jacopo Sansovino (1521). In the first chapel on the left there is the famous painting “Madonna dei Pellegrini” (1604) by Caravaggio, while the third pilaster on the left of the central nave is decorated with a fresco by Raffaello depicting the “Profeta Isaia” (1512). 

The main altar, built on a project by Bernini in 1627, bears the“Vergine con Bambino” coming from the church of Santa Sofia in Constantinople.Particularly important is the altarpiece depicting “Sant’Agostino, Giovanni evangelista e Girolamo” by Guercino (1591-1666), located in the third chapel on the right and dedicated to the saint to whom the church was named after. 

Inside the church one of the chapels is dedicated to Santa Monica, where she was actually buried. Her body was taken from Ostia in 1483.