Santa Caterina Church

Palermo, Italy

The Church of Saint Catherine (Chiesa di Santa Caterina) is a synthesis of Sicilian Baroque, Rococo and Renaissance styles.

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.

In 1532 the widening of the building was decided. Between 1566 and 1596 the church was rebuilt under the supervision of the Mother Prioress Maria del Carretto. The church was inaugurated on 24 November 1596.

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).

References:

Wikipedia

Religious sites in Italy

Address

Discesa dei Giudici 33, Palermo, Italy

See all sites in Palermo

Details

Founded: 1566-1596
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Villa Palagonia (13,6 km)
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta (37,8 km)
Caccamo Castle (33,1 km)
Termini Imerese Cathedral (32,6 km)
San Nicola l'Arena Castle (24,8 km)
Castle of the Counts of Modica (37,8 km)
Carini Castle (16 km)
Torre delle Mandre (22,9 km)
Ietas (22 km)

User Reviews

Ghenryeta (3 years ago)
Nice place with beautiful garden. Inside of the church you can find a bakery cafe.

Kadri K (3 years ago)
The church is breathtaking, the monastery is also quite interesting and great views from the rooftop. Well worth a visit!

cynthia go (3 years ago)
Amazing and beautiful structure..I love the church itself and if you go on the roof top, its just breathtaking view.❤❤❤

myung kim (3 years ago)
the best view point and good church. good terras and loop top. friendly worker and good information. inside got good cookies. strongerly recommend.

Antonella AO (4 years ago)
If you go there you must pay to go on the rooftop. The view is beautiful. The service from the staff is a bit weird.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.