Santa Caterina, Baroque church building on Corso Umberto, Taormina, Italy

Santa Caterina is a Baroque church on Corso Umberto, next to Palazzo Corvaja. Its facade has two levels of corner pilasters and a central portal in pink Taormina marble with two Ionic columns on high plinths, Corinthian capitals and scroll volutes, each holding a seated putto. The broken pediment's niche holds a statue of the titular saint with a palm branch and sword, carved by Paolo Greco in 1705.

Construction of the church began in the first half of the 17th century after Capuchin friars acquired the former church site just outside the city walls in 1610. The facade was later enhanced with decorative elements reflecting local Baroque craftsmanship.

The church is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, shown in the broken pediment of the facade with a palm branch and a sword, grasping the tyrant Maximinus Daia; the wheel of her martyrdom, carved by Paolo Greco in 1705, stands at her left. Inside, a 15th-century statue of the saint is kept, and the high altar holds Jacopo Vignerio's 16th-century painting of her martyrdom.

The church sits about 100 meters from Porta Messina in the pedestrian zone and is easily reached on foot. Wear comfortable shoes as the area is hilly with cobblestone access routes throughout.

The site sits above the ruins of a Roman Odeon theater, which itself was built atop an ancient Greek temple. These layers of history lie beneath the modern structure.