Santi Vincenzo e Caterina de' Ricci, Minor basilica and monastery in Prato, Italy.
Santi Vincenzo e Caterina de' Ricci is a baroque minor basilica in Prato with colorful marble altars, painted frescoes, and ornate stucco work covering its interior surfaces. An active convent adjoins the church, which means some areas of the complex remain restricted to visitors.
A Dominican convent dedicated to Saint Vincent Ferrer was founded here in 1503, and the church was completed at the end of the 16th century. After Catherine de' Ricci's canonisation the church was rebuilt between 1732 and 1735, possibly to designs by Giovan Battista Bettini and Girolamo Ticciati. The burial of her body beneath the main altar brought the title of minor basilica.
The church displays artistic reliefs on its walls that tell stories of miracles connected to Saint Catherine. These decorative works show how deeply the community honors both the saint and the spiritual life that took place within these walls.
Visitors can tour the church interior, but should expect that adjoining convent areas are closed off. It makes sense to focus on the publicly accessible sections and check visiting hours in advance.
The silver urn beneath the main altar holds the body of Catherine de' Ricci, which the sources describe as incorrupt. She entered the convent at thirteen and led it for decades, expanding it with funds from her spiritual son Filippo Salviati. A plaque in the church records Pope John Paul II's visit in 1986.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,251 contributors worldwide.