Parrocchia Di Santa Caterina (Parish of Santa Caterina), Pisa

The Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria isn’t a very large building, but it is well worth visiting for the marvelous works of art it houses. The first official recording of the church was made in 1211, along with a hospital that stood beside it. The church you can visit today was built between 1251 and 1300, commissioned by the Order of Dominican Monks. The adjacent bell tower with its mullioned windows was built by Giovanni di Simone. Its façade is of grey and white marble with two Gothic-style loggias on the upper half of the building, and a lovely rose window. The interior was renovated in the 18th century, after it had been partially destroyed by fire in 1651.

The church houses many fine paintings such as “Madonna with Saints Peter and Paul”, by Bartolomeo and the “Triumph of Saint Thomas” by Memmi. Other paintings executed in the 17th century are by Dandini and Lomi. The marble sculpture on the tomb of Archbishop Saltarelli is by Andrea Pisano and the beautiful statue of the Annunciation is by Nino Pisano, Andrea’s son. The tomb of Gherardo Compagni features a 16th century Pietà statue. According to legend Saint Catherine of Alexandria was martyred by Emperor Maxentius when she refused to worship pagan idols and continued to convert his subjects to Christianity. She was condemned to die on the “breaking wheel”, but when, in answer to her prays, the wheel was miraculously destroyed, the emperor had the unfortunate saint beheaded.