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Church of Saint Catherine

Year of construction 1730

AddressVia la Marina, 19

Coordinates40.629818,16.936693

Church

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Church of Saint Catherine of Bologna
Via la Marina, 19

Exterior

The double-order façade has twin pilasters surmounted by composite style capitals in the first order and by double-headed eagles in the second one. The pediment with volutes, carvings and arabesques resembles the Baroque architecture of Lecce. The colours that hide the original carparo stone both inside and outside are the result of a recent renovation by a private citizen, who decided to take care of the church after years of abandon.

On the left, a bell-gable with a bell taken from the deconsecrated church of St. Lawrence and dating back to 1738, and an open gallery with wooden roof.

Interior

The single nave has a barrel vault with lunettes on the presbytery and a dome with lantern on the space dedicated to the faithful. Corinthian pilasters and friezes enrich the high altar. A broken tympanum surmounts the niche dedicated to St. Catherine, with two angels on the sides and the coat of arms of the Meledandri family in the centre.

On the left of the presbytery there is the sacristy and an internal staircase leading to the bell tower, the open gallery and the wooden choir.
At the centre of the floor the inscription: “QUESTO PAVIMENTO / DI IPPOLITA GRAVINA /FU FATTO / NEL VII CENTENARIO FRANCESCANO /1927”. (This marble floor was donated in the seventh Franciscan centenary, 1927, by Ippolita Gravina)
On the left wall there is a niche with a statue of St. Francis.

Exterior

In 1730 Giacomo Meledandri, a member of one of the richest noble families of Castellaneta, began the construction of this church to fulfil the vow made to the Franciscan saint Catherine of Bologna, whom he considered his protectress and in whose honour he had also established an altar in the church of S. Francis.