Around 1350 Johannes and Katharina Peters of Dordrecht bought three houses and turned them into a hospice for pilgrims. The hospice chapel was consecrated in 1444. An older church built from 1431 to 1499 was replaced by the present one, funded by German donations between 1499 and 1522. Andrea Sansovino was retained as architect and Giuliano da Sangallo completed the facade. The article credits Bramante's influence on the Renaissance style, and describes it as a hall church typical of Northern Europe. It gives no materials.
The church is 130 feet (40 m) long and 98 feet (30 m) wide. It was consecrated on November 25, 1542. Napoleonic troops plundered it and used the sacristy as a stable.
The Catholic Church owns and runs it as the parish for German speakers in Rome.
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