The Gothic church of Sant’Agostino in Pietrasanta is tied to the figure of father Eugenio Barsanti who, in collaboration with Felice Matteucci, invented the first prototype of the internal combustion engine. Barsanti indeed celebrated his first Mass here. Moreover, on June 10, 1864, many important people assembled in this church for the solemn tribute to the Piarist father who had died suddenly in Belgium.

In 1933, a commemorative bust sculpted by Leone Tommasi was placed here. It was later transported to the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence and replaced with a copy by the sculptor’s children. In 1954, Barsanti’s ashes were transferred from the church of San Giovannino in Florence to the Basilica of Santa Croce.