Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, Minor basilica in Galatina, Italy

Santa Caterina d'Alessandria is a Gothic basilica in central Galatina. Its pale tan stone facade has a tall central gable with a rose window and a pointed portal with dark wooden doors, flanked by smaller arched doorways; the gable's upper masonry is darker grey-brown stone with lighter repairs, topped by a finial and pinnacles. The main portal's architrave carries a relief of Christ among the twelve apostles, and its columns rest on stylized lions.

Tradition holds that Raimondello Orsini del Balzo founded the church between 1369 and 1391 to house the finger of Saint Catherine, which he brought back from Mount Sinai. After his death in 1405, his wife Maria d'Enghien had the interior frescoed and their son Giovanni Antonio completed the building. The octagonal tribune was added by 1459 as a family burial chapel.

The name recalls Catherine of Alexandria, whose relic is kept here and draws believers to this day. Visitors can see people praying in the chapels or pausing before the frescoes throughout the day.

The church is open to visitors during the day and holds services throughout the year. Those who wish to look at the frescoes inside should allow time, as many details appear in the chapels and along the walls.

The frescoes show not only biblical scenes but also details of daily life in the 15th century, including clothing and objects from that period. Some chapels contain lesser known stories of saints that visitors often overlook when focusing only on the main images.