The Minor Basilica of Santi Vicenzo e Caterina de' Ricci is a

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

church, built in the 16th to 18th centuries, and located in the town of

Prato Prato ( ; ) is a city and municipality (''comune'') in Tuscany, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Prato. The city lies in the northeast of Tuscany, at an elevation of , at the foot of Monte Retaia (the last peak in the Calvana ch ...

, in

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

, Italy. Adjacent to the church is a 16th-century monastery.

Construction

The original church of San Vicenzo had been built in the 16th century, but refurbished over the following centuries. The church is now also dedicated to Caterina de' Ricci (1522-1590), who had been a nun associated with the adjacent convent of San Vicenzo Ferrer. About 150 years after her death, Catherine was beatified (1732) and subsequently canonized (1742). After her

beatification Beatification (from Latin , "blessed" and , "to make") is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. ''Beati'' is the p ...

, this church underwent major refurbishment (1732-1735) under Giovanni Battista Bettini (il Cignaroli) and Girolamo Ticciati. Saint Catherine's remains are displayed under the main altar. The reconstruction and canonization led to making the church a

minor basilica Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...

. Both the interior and exterior are

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

in style.

Works of art

The church houses a ''Nativity'' (16th century) by Michele delle Colombe, a marble relief of ''Madonna and Child'' (15th century) by Matteo Civitali, and the ''Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alessandria'' by

Vincenzo Meucci Vincenzo Meucci (1694–1766) was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period. Born in Florence. He was a pupil first of the painter Sebastiano Galeotti, then of Giovanni Gioseffo dal Sole in Bologna. He was patronized by the Marchese Giov ...

. On the wall of the

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

and above the altar is a series of framed relief sculptures by Girolamo Ticciati and Vicenzo Foggini (died 1755), son of the better-known sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini, depicting various miracles associated with Saint Catherine. The ceiling canvases are by Pucci.

Adjacent monastery

Next to the church is the cloistered monastery founded in 1503 and later expanded during the life of Caterina de’ Ricci. The atrium leads to the Papalini Madonna Chapel. Legends hold that the chapel houses a 16th-century

maiolica Maiolica is tin-glazed pottery decorated in colours on a white background. The most renowned Italian maiolica is from the Renaissance period. These works were known as ''istoriato'' wares ("painted with stories") when depicting historical and ...

bust that caused the Spanish troops of

Ferdinand II of Aragon Ferdinand II, also known as Ferdinand I, Ferdinand III, and Ferdinand V (10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516), called Ferdinand the Catholic, was King of Aragon from 1479 until his death in 1516. As the husband and co-ruler of Queen Isabella I of ...

and

Pope Julius II Pope Julius II (; ; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death, in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope, the Battle Pope or the Fearsome ...

to spare the monastery during the 1512 Sack of Prato. The altar has two panels depicting and ''Assumption'' and ''Scenes from the Passion'' (circa 1576) by Michele delle Colombe; it also houses precious paintings by Simone Pignoni (''Saints Catherine and Tecla'');

Lorenzo Lippi Lorenzo Lippi (3 May 1606 – 15 April 1665) was an Italian Painting, painter and poet from Florence. Biography Born in Florence, he studied painting under Matteo Rosselli. Both Baldassare Franceschini and Francesco Furini were also apprent ...

(''St Francis di Sales'');

Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio Ridolfo di Domenico Bigordi, better known as Ridolfo Ghirlandaio (14 February 1483 – 6 June 1561) was an Italian Renaissance painter active mainly in Florence. He was the son of Domenico Ghirlandaio. Biography He was born in Florence. Since he ...

(''Madonna and Child''); as well from the studio of Giovanni Battista Naldini. There is an altarpiece by Michele Tosini in the garden of the Chapel of Madonna di Loreto. Some sites in the convent are closed to visitors.Fondazione Pistoia Vignole
entry on church and monastery.

Images

File:Santi Vincenzo e Caterina-nave 1.jpg, Internal view File:Santi Vincenzo e Caterina-to the exit.jpg, The choir of the nuns File:Santa caterina de' ricci, reliquie 02.JPG, The preserved corpse of Saint Catherine de' Ricci File:Basilica di Santa Caterina de' Ricci interno 07.JPG, High Altar

References

{{coord missing, Italy Vicenzo e Caterina 15th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Renaissance architecture in Tuscany 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Basilica churches in Tuscany