44 - Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Medieval Church with Three Naves

Audio Guide Transcript

This charming medieval church overlooks a small open space, allowing visitors to enjoy its late Romanesque façade at leisure. The most recent intervention on this part of the building dates to 1269, as recorded in an inscription still visible on the portal.

The entire structure is built with neatly arranged blocks of local stone, giving the façade a solid and harmonious appearance.

A smaller, pointed-arch entrance topped by a now-sealed square window is next to the main portal—decorated with understated elegance. Above the central doorway, a mullioned window opens up, while a single-arched bell gable crowns the top of the façade with a pyramidal finial.

Inside, the atmosphere is austere and unmistakably medieval. The entire space is clad in stone, including a mosaic floor. The layout features three naves: the central one ends in a semi-dome apse, which appears flattened today due to centuries of structural modifications.

Wooden trusses support the central nave ceiling, while cross vaults cover the side aisles, likely added in the 17th century.

Fragments of frescoes from different periods still cling to the walls—precious remnants of the church’s devotional and artistic history.

One inscription carved into the stone mentions a man named Elefante, possibly the church’s original patron, adding a quiet personal note to the story held within these ancient walls.

Use the map to explore

1 - Gentile’s Palace

2 - Church of Saint Francis of Paola

3 - De Marinis Palace

4 - Ventafridda Palace

5 - Chapel of Saint Matthew

6 - Pannone–Ferrara Palace

7 - Tommaso Traetta Theater

8 - Angevin Tower

9 - De Ferraris–Regna Palace

10 - Church of Saint Gaetano

11 - Sylos–Calò Palace

12 - Girolamo and Rosaria Devanna National Gallery

13 - Church of the Souls in Purgatory

14 - Scaraggi–Labini Palace

15 - Santorelli Palace

16 - Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

17 - Convent and Cloister of Saint Francis of Assisi

18 - Diocesan Museum and Hanging Gardens

19 - Bove Chapel – Saint Mary of Compassion

20 - Bove Palace

21 - Chapel of Saint Anne and the Council Hall of the Nobles

22 - Rogadeo Palace

23 - Planelli–Sylos Palace

24 - Vulpano–Sylos Palace

25 - Bove–Planelli–Tèrmite Palace

26 - Church of Saint Dominic

27 - Chapel of the Mysteries

28 - Gentile – Labini – Sylos Palace

29 - Church of Saint Teresa

30 - Carmine Sylos Classical High School

31 - Old Church of Saint Leucius

32 - Franco–Spinelli–Regna Palace

33 - Giannone–Alitti Palace

34 - Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary

35 - Crypt of the Cathedral

36 - Early Christian Substructure of the Cathedral

37 - Church of Saint Nicholas of the Hospital

38 - De Lerma Palace

39 - Church of Saint Sylvester

40 - Monastery of Saint Mary of the Virgins

41 - Barone – Gentile – Sisto Palace

42 - Albuquerque Palace

43 - Church of Saint Valentine

44 - Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

45 - Francesco Spinelli School of Drawing

46 - Cioffrese Palace

47 - Chapel of the De Ìlderis Family and Agèra Gallery

48 - Battle Academy Museum

49 - Church and Cloister of Saint Peter the New

50 - Sylos–Sersale Palace

51 - Church of Saint George

52 - “Spazi della Memoria” Museum

53 - Church of the Annunciation

54 - “De Palo – Ungaro” Archaeological Museum

55 - Nicola Fornelli School Building

56 - Church of Saint Vitus

57 - Convent of Saint Leo the Great

58 - Church of the Crucifix

59 - Church of Mary Most Holy of the Immaculate Conception

60 - Church of Our Lady of Sorrows

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