Santa Caterina, Palermo

Church of Saint Catherine
Church of Saint Catherine
Chiesa di Santa Caterina (in Italian)
	Façade of the church, Piazza Bellini
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Archdiocese of Palermo
Rite	Roman Rite
Location
Location	Palermo, Italy
Geographic coordinates	38°06′56″N 13°21′45.37″E / 38.11556°N 13.3626028°ECoordinates: 38°06′56″N 13°21′45.37″E / 38.11556°N 13.3626028°E
Architecture
Style	Sicilian Baroque, Rococo, Renaissance
Groundbreaking	1566
Completed	1596
Website
	https://www.monasterosantacaterina.com/?lang=en

The Church of Saint Catherine (Italian: Chiesa di Santa Caterina or simply Santa Caterina) is a church in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy. It is located in the heart of the historic centre, between Piazza Bellini and Piazza Pretoria, in the same area of other well-known architectural landmarks like the churches of Martorana and San Cataldo (both of them are World Heritage Sites), the Fontana Pretoria and the Palazzo Pretorio, headquarters of the Palermo municipality. The church is a synthesis of Sicilian Baroque, Rococo and Renaissance styles.

History[]

In 1310 the last will of the rich Benvenuta Mastrangelo determined the foundation of a female monastery under the direction of the Dominican Order. The new monastery was dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria and was erected in the area where the old palace of George of Antioch, admiral of Roger II of Sicily, stood.^[1]

In 1532 the widening of the building was decided.^[1] Between 1566 and 1596 the church was rebuilt under the supervision of the Mother Prioress Maria del Carretto. For a long time the architectural project was attributed to , architect of another church of Palermo, San Giorgio dei Genovesi. However, more recent studies show the involvement of architects like the Florentine Francesco Camilliani and the Lombard , already engaged in the project of Piazza Pretoria.^[1] The dome was designed by . The church was inaugurated on 24 November 1596. Many years later, on 16 March 1664, the church was consecrated by the archbishop of Palermo in the presence of the Viceroy of Sicily Francesco Caetani, 8th Duke of Sermoneta.^[1]

During the 19th century the church was damaged on several occasions: during the uprising of 1820-1821, the Sicilian revolution of 1848, the , the and the (1866).

Art[]

Chancel: at the top the fresco "The Soul in glory rises to Heaven", Antonio Filocamo and Paolo Filocamo

Vault: Triumph of Saint Catherine, Filippo Randazzo

Paintings[]

Oil on canvas:

Deposition of Christ, school of Jusepe de Ribera
Jesus under the Cross, unknown author
Last Supper, unknown author
The Adulteress, unknown author
Washing of the Feet, unknown author
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, unknown author
Transfiguration, unknown author
The Virgin intercedes for the souls in Purgatory, unknown author
Immaculate, unknown author
Adoration, unknown author
Birth of the Virgin, unknown author
Pious V blesses Andrea Doria, unknown author
Albigensian massacre, unknown author
Stake of the forbidden books, unknown author
Our Lady of the Rosary, unknown author

Frescoes:

Triumph of Saint Catherine, Filippo Randazzo
Glory of the Dominican Sisters, Filippo Randazzo
Triumph of the Dominican Order, Vito D'Anna
Allegories of the four continents, Vito D'Anna
The Soul in glory rises to Heaven, Antonio Filocamo and Paolo Filocamo
Exaltation of the Eucharist, Antonio Filocamo and Paolo Filocamo

The church houses other precious artworks (statues, altars and frescoes) designed or made by artists like Giacomo Amato, , Andrea Palma, Antonello Gagini, Francesco Sozzi, and Ignazio Marabitti.