Church of St Catherine of Italy, Valletta

Church of St Catherine of Alexandria
Knisja ta' Santa Katerina ta' Lixandra
Church of St Catherine of Alexandria
35°53′46.6″N 14°30′39.5″E / 35.896278°N 14.510972°E / 35.896278; 14.510972
Location	Valletta
Country	Malta
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Founded	1576
Dedication	St Catherine of Alexandria
Architecture
Status	Active
Functional status	Church
Architectural type	Church
Style	Baroque
Administration
Archdiocese	Malta
Clergy
Rector	Gino Gauci

The Church of St Catherine is a Roman Catholic church situated in Valletta, Malta. The church serves as the parish church of the Italian community of Malta.^[1] Thus it is more commonly known as the church of St Catherine of Italy or Santa Katerina tal-Italja in Maltese.

The interior of the church

Origins

The church was built in 1576 by the Italian knights of St John to serve as their church. It was built adjacent to the Auberge d'Italie. Girolamo Cassar was commissioned to draw up the plans. In the 17th century the church was enlarged.^[2] An octagonal church was added to the existing chapel. The original chapel was changed into the sanctuary of the church. The church underwent a major restoration from 2001 till 2011. Today the church still serves as the parish church of the Italian community of Malta.^[3]

The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.^[4]

Works of Art

The titular painting was painted by Mattia Preti. It depicts the martyrdom of St Catherine of Alexandria. Preti donated the painting to the church after his arrival in Malta. The cupola of the church was also painted by Preti. He drew it with painted stucco decorations and ornamental patterns in grey and gold.^[5]

See also

• Culture of Malta
• History of Malta
• List of Churches in Malta
• Religion in Malta

References

Valletta
History	Jean de Valette Francesco Laparelli Girolamo Cassar Conspiracy of the Slaves Rising of the Priests French blockade Carnival tragedy of 1823 Sette Giugno Valletta Treaty CHOGM 2005 Valletta Summit on Migration CHOGM 2015
Architecture	Streets and Piazzas Republic Street Merchants Street Republic Square St. George's Square St. John's Square Fortifications City Gate Fort St. Elmo Lascaris Battery St. James Cavalier St. John's Cavalier Saluting Battery Victoria Gate Churches Christ the Redeemer Church of the Jesuits Nibbia Chapel^ Our Lady of Damascus Our Lady of Liesse Our Lady of Mount Carmel Our Lady of Pilar Our Lady of Victory St. Andrew St. Augustine St. Barbara St. Catherine St. Dominic (Porto Salvo) St. Francis of Assisi St. George St. James St. John's Co-Cathedral St. Lucy St. Mary of Jesus (ta' Ġieżu) St. Mary Magdalene St. Nicholas St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral St. Paul's Shipwreck Palaces Admiralty House Auberge d'Allemagne^ Auberge d'Aragon Auberge d'Auvergne^ Auberge de Bavière Auberge de Castille Auberge de France^ Auberge d'Italie Auberge de Provence Casa Rocca Piccola Grandmaster's Palace Hostel de Verdelin Messina Palace Palazzo Correa^ Palazzo Ferreria Palazzo Parisio Spinola Palace Museums Fortifications Interpretation Centre Lascaris War Rooms Malta Postal Museum National Museum of Archaeology National Museum of Fine Arts National War Museum Palace Armoury Gardens Ġnien is-Sultan^ Hastings Gardens Lower Barrakka Gardens Upper Barrakka Gardens Other Bakery^ Banca Giuratale Bibliotheca Casa del Commun Tesoro Castellania Courts of Justice building La Borsa Main Guard Malta Stock Exchange Manoel Theatre Mediterranean Conference Centre (Sacra Infermeria) Monte di Pietà Parliament House Ponsonby's Column^ Royal Opera House^ Slaves' Prison^ Triton Fountain Valletta Market (Is-Suq tal-Belt)
Sport	Valletta F.C. Valletta Lions RFC 24th Chess Olympiad Malta Grand Prix Games of the Small States of Europe (1993 • 2003)
Other	Valletta Living History HMS Maori Manderaggio
^ Destroyed, demolished or in ruins Main category