Santa Caterina d'Alessandria or Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church with a main facade on Piazza Bellini, and a lateral Western facade facing the elaborate

Fontana Pretoria The Praetorian Fountain (Italian: Fontana Pretoria) is a monumental fountain located in Piazza Pretoria in the historic center of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. The fountain dominates the piazza on the west flank of the church of Santa Caterin ...

, in the historic quarter of

Kalsa Kalsa or Mandamento Tribunali is a historical quarter of the Italian city of Palermo in Sicily. It is sometimes referred to as la Kalsa or the Kalsa. Names The common name of the quarter, ''Kalsa'', derives from the district's historic Arabic ...

in the city of

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...

, region of

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. In front of the main facade, across the piazza Bellini, rise the older churches of San Cataldo and Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (or the Martorana), while across

Piazza Pretoria Piazza Pretoria is at the limits of the district of Kalsa, near the corner of Cassaro with Via Maqueda, just a few meters from the Quattro Canti, the intersection where all the four ancient quarters intersect, in the city of Palermo, region of S ...

is the Theatine church of

San Giuseppe San Giuseppe is the Italian name of Saint Joseph. It may refer to: Places of Italy Municipalities *San Giuseppe Jato, in the Province of Palermo, Sicily *San Giuseppe Vesuviano, in the Province of Naples, Campania *Rima San Giuseppe, in the Provinc ...

and the entrance to the

Quattro Canti Quattro Canti, officially known as Piazza Vigliena, is a Baroque square in Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy; it is considered the center of the historic quarters of the city. The site is the intersection of two major streets in Palermo, the Via Maq ...

. Refurbished over the centuries, the church retains elements and decorations from the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

, and late-Baroque (

Rococo Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...

) eras. This church is distinct from the Oratorio di Santa Caterina found in the

Olivella Olivella is a municipality in Catalonia, in the province of Barcelona, Spain. It is situated in the comarca of Garraf. History The first known village in the area was founded in 992 around a castle known as ''Castell vell''. The inhabitants li ...

neighborhood.

History

In 1310, the rich Benvenuta Mastrangelo in her last will endowed the foundation of a female Dominican convent. The monastery was dedicated to

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Catherine of Alexandria (also spelled Katherine); grc-gre, ἡ Ἁγία Αἰκατερίνη ἡ Μεγαλομάρτυς ; ar, سانت كاترين; la, Catharina Alexandrina). is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, wh ...

, and was sited on the location of the former palace of George of Antioch, admiral of

Roger II of Sicily Roger II ( it, Ruggero II; 22 December 1095 – 26 February 1154) was King of Sicily and Africa, son of Roger I of Sicily Roger I ( it, Ruggero I, Arabic: ''رُجار'', ''Rujār''; Maltese: ''Ruġġieru'', – 22 June 1101), nicknamed Rog ...

. In 1532, it was decided to refurbish and enlarge the church, a work that took place mainly between 1566 and 1596 under the supervision of the Mother Prioress Maria del Carretto. In the past, the design was attributed to Giorgio di Faccio, architect of the Palermitan church of San Giorgio dei Genovesi. However, recent studies show the involvement of the architects Francesco Camilliani of Florence and Antonio Muttone of Lombardy, who were also engaged in the reassembly of the

. The new 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 This is a list of viceroys of Sicily: Aragonese direct rule 1409–1516 * John of Aragon, Duke of Peñafiel, later king John II of Aragon, 1458–1479, acted 1409–1416. * Domingo Ram y Lanaja, Bishop of Lleida 1416–1419 * Antonio de Cardona ...

Francesco Caetani, 8th Duke of Sermoneta Francesco Caetani, 8th Duke of Sermoneta, (11 March 1613 – 9 October 1683) was an Italian nobleman. Aged 15, he was led to Spain by his uncle, cardinal Antonio Caetani (iuniore), where he remained as royal page until 1616. He was Governor o ...

. During the 19th century the church was damaged on several occasions: during the uprising of 1820-1821; the

Sicilian revolution of 1848 The Sicilian revolution of independence of 1848 ( scn, Rivuluzzioni nnipinnintista siciliana dû 1848) occurred in a year replete with revolutions and popular revolts. It commenced on 12 January 1848, and therefore was the first of the numerous ...

; the Gancia revolt and the

Siege of Palermo The siege of Palermo took place between 27 and 30 May 1860 in Palermo, Sicily, during the Expedition of the Thousand led by Giuseppe Garibaldi against the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as part of the Italian unification wars. Battle Although with ...

in 1860; and the

Seven and a Half Days Revolt The Seven and a Half Days Revolt ( scn, Rivorta dû 7 e menzu; it, Rivolta del sette e mezzo) was an uprising in Palermo, lasting from the 16 to 22 September 1866. Its name comes from its duration of seven and a half days. It is usually discusse ...

in 1866.

Art and Architecture

The sober, linear Renaissance facade, framed by

Corinthian Corinthian or Corinthians may refer to: *Several Pauline epistles, books of the New Testament of the Bible: **First Epistle to the Corinthians **Second Epistle to the Corinthians **Third Epistle to the Corinthians (Orthodox) *A demonym relating to ...

pilasters, opens to a church interior with a dazzling rich decoration of stucco details, statues, colored marbles, frescoes and paintings. A single nave is flanked by shallow chapels until the apse, which has a wide transept. Above the

narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave, opposite the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex ...

, or anteroom of the church, is the choir, which was sheltered from the public by metal grates, thus allowing the cloistered nuns to view the mass while separated from the public. Other grated windows in the church, accessible by interior corridors allowed nuns to receive confession and take the eucharist. In the narthex are frescoes depicting the ''Glory of Saint Catherine'' and the ''Glory of the Dominican Sisters'' by

Filippo Randazzo Filippo Randazzo (18th century) was an Italian painter, active in Palermo. References

* 18th-century Italian painters Italian male painters Italian Baroque painters Painters from Palermo Year of death missing 18th-century Italian male art ...

. There are small sculptural depictions of prominent and venerated nuns of the Dominican order:

File:Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 04.jpg, St

Agnes of Montepulciano Agnes of Montepulciano (28 January 1268 – 20 April 1317) was a Dominican prioress in medieval Tuscany, who was known as a miracle worker during her lifetime. She is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church. Life Agnes was born in 1268 i ...

File:Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 33.jpg, St

Catherine of Siena Catherine of Siena (Italian: ''Caterina da Siena''; 25 March 1347 – 29 April 1380), a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, was a mystic, activist, and author who had a great influence on Italian literature and on the Catholic Church. ...

File:Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 31.jpg, St Catherine de' Ricci File:Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 05.jpg, Sancha d'Aragona File:Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 34.jpg, St Margaret of Hungary File:Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 32.jpg, Giovanna of Portugal

The chapels along the right nave are: *Capella delle Sette Dolori - The main canvas of the Chapel of the Seven Sorrows is an altarpiece depict ing ''Jesus before the Cross'' attributed to a followers of

Jusepe de Ribera Jusepe de Ribera (1591 – 1652) was a painter and printmaker, who along with Francisco de Zurbarán, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, and the singular Diego Velázquez, are regarded as the major artists of Spanish Baroque painting. Referring to ...

. An additional canvas depicts the ''Last Supper''. A bas-relief depicting ''Jonah and the Whale'' is attributed to Giovanni Battista Ragusa. *Capella del Crocifisso - Flanking the reliquary crucifix on the altar, canvases depict ''Jesus and the Adulteress'' and ''Washing of the Feet''. The bas relief depicts the ''Sacrifice of Isaac'' by Giovanni Battista Ragusa. *Capella del Carmine - The main altarpiece depicts the ''Madonna of Mount Carmel'' flanked by statues of a young St John the Baptist and St Rosalia. Other canvases depict a ''Transfiguration'' and a ''Virgin intercedes for the souls in Purgatory'', by unknown painters. The bas-reliefs depict the ''Miracle of the

Pool of Bethesda The Pool of Bethesda is a pool in Jerusalem known from the New Testament account of Jesus miraculously healing a paralysed man, from the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John, where it is described as being near the Sheep Gate, surrounded by fi ...

(Probatic Pool)'' and the ''Baptism of the

Ethiopian Eunuch The Ethiopian eunuch ( gez, ኢትዮጵያዊው ጃንደረባ) is a figure in the New Testament of the Bible; the story of his conversion to Christianity is recounted in Acts 8. Biblical narrative Philip the Evangelist was told by an angel ...

'' and are attributed to Giovanni Battista Ragusa.

Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 41.jpg, Chapel of the Seven Sorrows Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 37.jpg, Chapel of the Crucifix Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 35.jpg, Chapel of the Carmine

The chapels along the left nave are: *Capella dell'Immacolata Concezione - The main canvas altarpiece depicts the Marian devotional image of the ''Madonna of the Immaculate Conception''. Additional canvases depict the ''Birth of the Virgin'', a ''Adoration of the Shepherds'', and ''Adoration of the Magi''. *Capella del Rosario - The main canvas altarpiece depicts the ''Madonna of Rosary before St Dominic'' flanked by statues of two Dominican saints Ludovico Bertran and

Antoninus of Florence Antoninus of Florence (1 March 13892 May 1459), was an Italian Dominican friar, who ruled as an archbishop of Florence. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. Life He was born Antonio Pierozzi (also called de Forciglioni) on 1 Marc ...

. Another canvas depicts ''Pope

Pius V Pope Pius V ( it, Pio V; 17 January 1504 – 1 May 1572), born Antonio Ghislieri (from 1518 called Michele Ghislieri, O.P.), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1566 to his death in May 1572. He is v ...

blesses

Andrea Doria Andrea Doria, Prince of Melfi (; lij, Drîa Döia ; 30 November 146625 November 1560) was a Genoese statesman, ', and admiral, who played a key role in the Republic of Genoa during his lifetime. As the ruler of Genoa, Doria reformed the Repu ...

''. *Capella di San Domenico - The main canvas altarpiece depicts the ''St Dominic defeats the Heretics'' flanked canvases depict a ''Burning of Heretical books'' and a ''Madonna before Saints Francis and Dominic''.

Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 36.jpg, Chapel of Immaculate Conception Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 38.jpg, Chapel of the Rosary Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 42.jpg, Chapel of St Dominic

The presbytery, or apse, has the main altar richly decorated with various

pietre dure ''Pietra dura'' () or ''pietre dure'' () ( see below), called parchin kari or parchinkari ( fa, ) in the Indian Subcontinent, is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images. It is c ...

including porphyry, thin columns of

lapis lazuli Lapis lazuli (; ), or lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. As early as the 7th millennium BC, lapis lazuli was mined in the Sar-i Sang mines, ...

, and has wooden angel statues covered with gold and silver. To right arm of the transept is a secondary altar with a central niche has a statue by

Antonello Gagini Antonello Gagini (1478–1536) was an Italian sculptor of the Renaissance, mainly active in Sicily and Calabria. Antonello belonged to a family of sculptors and artisans, originally from Northern Italy, but active throughout Italy, including Gen ...

, depicting a crowned Saint Catherine, holding a palm-leaf symbolising martyrdom and standing beside a wheel, the latter being the instrument used in her execution. The ensemble was ultimately designed by

Andrea Palma Andrea Palma (b. Trapani, 1644 or 1664 – d. 1730) was an 18th-century Italian architect, working in the Baroque style. He is credited with being one of the most notable architects of the Sicilian Baroque movement. His works include the Cat ...

and Giacomo Amato. The dome was designed by Francesco Ferrigno and completed in 1750. By the next year, the interior had been frescoed by

Vito D'Anna Vito D'Anna (14 October 1718 – 13 October 1769) was an Italian painter, considered the most prominent painter of Palermitan rococo and one of the most important artists of Sicily. Biography He was the father of Alessandro D'Anna, the brother- ...

, depicting a ''Triumph of the Dominican Order'', frescoes depicting allegories of the four continents (Africa (southeastern corner), America (southwestern corner), Asia (northwestern corner), and Europe (northeastern corner), throughout which, at the time, the order aimed to spread the Catholic faith. On pedestals protruding from the pilasters holding the dome, are four statues of Dominican saints sculpted by Giovanni Battista Ragusa:

Dominic of Guzman Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scienti ...

, the founder of the order, holding a lily and, at his feet, a dog bearing a flaming torch to the globe;Putatively, Dominic's mother during her pregnancy dreamt of a dog setting the world on fire, also see the portal to the church of San Cita, Palermo. the scholar

Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known wi ...

with his scalp aflame; St Peter Martyr with the martyr's palm atop his scalp; and the apocalyptic preacher

Vincent Ferrer Vincent Ferrer, OP ( ca-valencia, Sant Vicent Ferrer , es, San Vicente Ferrer, it, San Vincenzo Ferreri, german: Sankt Vinzenz Ferrer, nl, Sint-Vincent Ferrer, french: Saint Vincent Ferrier; 23 January 1350 – 5 April 1419) was a Valencian D ...

with his hand over heart, gazing to heavens.

Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 18.jpg, St Vincent Ferrer Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 20.jpg, St Peter Martyr Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 21.jpg, St Thomas Aquinas Santa Caterina (Palermo) 17 07 2019 19.jpg, St Dominic

Frescoes: * ''The Soul in glory rises to Heaven'' and ''Exaltation of the Eucharist'' by

Antonio Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular male ...

and Paolo Filocamo The church houses other precious artworks (statues, altars and frescoes) designed or made by artists such as

Francesco Sozzi Francesco Sozzi (26 October 1732 – 1795) was an Italian painter, active in style characteristic of the Rococo period in Palermo. He is distinguished from other fellow painters for his graceful, delicate, and elegant style. He was the son of Oli ...

, Alessandro D'Anna and

Ignazio Marabitti Ignazio Marabitti (6 September 1719La Sicilia nel secolo XVIII e la poesia satiricoburlesca By Giuseppe Leanti, page 163. in Palermo – 1797 in Palermo) was a Sicilian sculptor of the late Baroque period. He trained in Rome in the studio of Fil ...

References

External links

*
Image gallery
*
Profile of the church - ''arte.it''
*

*

{{Authority control Caterina Alessandria Baroque architecture in Palermo Renaissance architecture in Palermo 16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Church buildings with domes 1596 establishments in Italy 1596 establishments in the Spanish Empire

History

Art and Architecture

See also

References

External links