Santa Caterina, Palermo

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.

Church of Saint Catherine
Chiesa di Santa Caterina (in Italian)
Façade of the church, Piazza Bellini
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
ProvinceArchdiocese of Palermo
RiteRoman Rite
Location
LocationPalermo, Italy
Geographic coordinates38°06′56″N 13°21′45.37″E
Architecture
StyleSicilian Baroque, Rococo, Renaissance
Groundbreaking1566
Completed1596
Website
https://www.monasterosantacaterina.com/?lang=en

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 Giorgio di Faccio, 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 Antonio Muttone, already engaged in the project of Piazza Pretoria.[1] The dome was designed by Francesco Ferrigno. The church was inaugurated on 24 November 1596. Many years later, on 16 March 1664, the church was consecrated by the archbishop of Palermo Pietro Martinez y Rubio 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 Gancia revolt, the insurrection of Palermo (1860) and the Sette e mezzo revolt (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, Giovanni Battista Ragusa, Andrea Palma, Antonello Gagini, Francesco Sozzi, Alessandro D'Anna and Ignazio Marabitti.

The dome and the Fontana Pretoria
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See also

References
  1. "Gaspare Palermo, Guida istruttiva per potersi conoscere tutte le magnificenze della Città di Palermo, Volume secondo, Palermo, Reale Stamperia, 1816, p. 97-104".
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