Santuario di Santa Caterina, Renaissance shrine in Siena, Italy.
The Santuario di Santa Caterina is a Renaissance shrine in Siena built around the original home of Saint Catherine. The complex includes several religious structures, such as the Church of the Crucifix and multiple oratories, all connected to the former Benincasa family residence.
The sanctuary was built between 1683 and 1700 to honor Saint Catherine of Siena, who lived in the original house before her death in 1380. The transformation of the Benincasa family home into a religious site reflects how her memory was preserved over the centuries.
The sanctuary displays artworks and frescoes showing Saint Catherine's life and her connections to the church. These works help visitors understand how she lived and what mattered to her family in their daily home.
The complex is typically open daily for visitors, with guided tours available to help you explore the site fully. Comfortable shoes are recommended since visiting involves walking through several rooms and climbing stairs.
One remarkable space is the Kitchen Oratory, the family's former kitchen, where visitors can see the stone where Saint Catherine rested during her mystical experiences. This intimate room offers a direct sense of her private spiritual life.
Location: Siena
Inception: 1700
Architectural style: Renaissance architecture
GPS coordinates: 43.31986,11.32829
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
Siena is a Tuscan city built on three hills, where medieval streets wind between brick buildings and open onto piazzas. The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo hosts the Palio horse race twice a year and serves as the town's main gathering place. The Cathedral, with its black-and-white marble facade, stands on one of the highest points. From the top of Torre del Mangia, the city spreads out in all directions, with its terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills visible. Gothic and Renaissance architecture appears throughout the streets, in the form of palaces, churches, fountains and loggias. The Palazzo Pubblico contains frescoes and civic art, while the Pinacoteca Nazionale displays paintings from the Sienese School. The Biblioteca Piccolomini holds illuminated manuscripts. The Basilica of San Domenico rises on a hill, offering views across the rooftops. The Fortezza Medicea and the university botanical garden provide additional perspectives on the city and its landscape. Beyond the center, the Etruscan necropolis at Malignano, Villa di Geggiano with its gardens, and the Chianti sculpture park add to the range of places to explore.
Siena Cathedral
256 m
Siena Cathedral
245 m
Piccolomini Library
244 m
Basilica of San Domenico
129 m
Battistero di San Giovanni
214 m
Fontebranda
93 m
Loggia della Mercanzia
257 m
Cathedral - Crypt
241 m
Palazzo Tolomei
232 m
Campanile of the Cathedral of Siena
253 m
Palazzo Spannocchi, Siena
244 m
Palazzo del Magnifico
225 m
Teatro dei Rozzi
190 m
Hôpital Santa Maria della Scala
163 m
Biblioteca comunale degli Intronati
98 m
Santa Maria delle Nevi, Siena
229 m
Archbishop's Palace
243 m
San Pellegrino alla Sapienza
147 m
Palazzo Tantucci, Siena
239 m
Palazzo Bichi Ruspoli, Siena
243 m
Santa Caterina in Fontebranda
19 m
Porta di Fontebranda
206 m
Palazzo Bindi Sergardi
211 m
Stanze della Memoria
243 m
Torre delle Sette Seghinelle
251 m
Santa Caterina del Paradiso
166 m
Piccolomini Library
231 m
Basilica Sotterranea (Cripta del Duomo)
234 mReviews
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