Church of St Catherine of Italy, Valletta, Baroque church in Victory Square, Valletta, Malta.
The Church of St Catherine of Italy stands on Victory Square with an octagonal design characteristic of baroque architecture. Inside, the walls feature elaborate stucco decorations and ornamental patterns finished in grey and gold tones.
Girolamo Cassar designed this church in 1576 as a religious center for the Italian knights of the Order of St John. It was positioned next to the Auberge d'Italie, the residence building for Italian members of the order.
The church serves as a gathering place for Malta's Italian community, where services are conducted in Italian and the space reflects their religious traditions. It remains an active center for Italian speakers and maintains connections to the broader Italian cultural presence on the island.
The church is open during standard weekday hours for visitors to explore its architecture and interior details at their own pace. Weekend visits are best timed around morning services when the space is active and natural light illuminates the decorative elements.
The painter Mattia Preti donated his work to the church, a large painting that depicts the death of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. This artwork remains one of the most significant pieces inside and reflects the connection between the church and artistic circles of the Mediterranean.
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