Santa Caterina, Palermo
Photo by Cate Fuller.
Dome of Santa Caterina behind Piazza Pretoria. Photo by Cate Fuller.
The Sicilian Baroque interior. Photo by Cate Fuller.
Tomb in Santa Caterina. Photo by Cate Fuller.
Although begun in 1566, most of the internal decoration of Santa Caterina in Palermo dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.
A powerful example of Sicilian Baroque, it overwhelms the senses with colors, textures, sculpture and marble inlay.
There are illusionistic ceiling frescoes (18th century) by Filippo Randazzo in the nave and Vito d'Anna in the dome.
The church is flanked by Piazza Pretorio, which is dominated by the huge Mannerist Fontana Pretorio (1544), currently being restored.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Chiesa di Santa Caterina; Church of St. Catherine |
| Type of site: | Church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Closed for restoration |
| Dates: | 1566 |
| Architecture: | Baroque |
| Location: | Piazza Pretoria, Palermo, Sicily |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Santa Caterina. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Palermo Map or get our free Google Earth download.
