Chiesa e Monastero di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria - Palermo

The church belongs to the Dominican order and was built between 1566 and 1596.

It is developed lengthwise and is crossed by the transept on which the dome is placed. The late Renaissance facade is strongly forced; it still has a portal and windows of Gaginese origin . In the middle, on the portal flanked by columns, is a marble statue of Saint Catherine from 1685.

It is a remarkable example of Baroque religious architecture: the single-aisled interior features formidable 18th-century ornamental decoration ; the walls are continuously covered with a rich polychrome marble mantle.

Above the entrance is the choir, enlarged in 1683, supported by spiral columns of red marble . The sub-choir was decorated with frescoes by Francesco Sozzi in 1769, depicting scenes from the saint's life. The vault, with gilded stucco arabesques, was painted in 1744 by Filippo Randazzo with the 'Glory of Saint Catherine' . The frescoes in the dome, painted in 1751 with the 'Triumph of the Dominican Saints', are the work of Vito d'Anna.

The precious paintings in mixed marble and bas-reliefs at the base of the pilasters in the nave, depicting the 'Story of Jonah' and the 'Sacrifice of Isaac' , are of great importance. The presbytery was masterfully designed by Giacomo Amato and provided with a particularly beautiful and opulent decoration by various sculptors; the opulent main altar is made of semi-precious stones with an amethyst tabernacle.

Willem Vandenameele