Basilica di San Domenico

Beautiful austere gothic basilica, housing the relic of Saint Catherine but principally created for the Dominican order where Catherina di Siena felt most at home. The church is much larger than one would expect and can be seen from various viewpoints in the city and itself has a fantastic view of the Duomo on Siena’s other hill. Inside it is quiet, and visitors are regularly reminded to remain quiet which means it feels much more like a place of veneration rather than the sometimes overcrowded cathedral. The cult of Santa Caterina is very much alive in Siena (make sure you also visit the nearby sanctuary of S. Caterina where she lived). The reason Siena exists as beautiful as it is today is that it is a place of pilgrimage and you can truly feel and experience that here

Born in 1347 as Caterina di Giacomo di Benincasa, Saint Catherine of Siena was a profoundly influential Catholic mystic, philosopher, and theologian. Despite her humble origins as the 24th of 25 children in a local family, she resisted marriage, joined the Dominican lay order, and dedicated her short life to serving the poor and advocating for church reform. She famously corresponded with monarchs and even successfully persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return the Papal seat from Avignon back to Rome. Catherine passed away from a stroke in Rome in 1380 at the age of 33. While her main body remains buried at the Santa Maria sopra Minerva church in Rome, the citizens of Siena desperately wanted to bring their beloved saint back home. Unable to legally move her remains or sneak a whole body past the Roman guards, Sienese thieves secretly severed her head and placed it in a bag to smuggle it out of the city. According to religious legend, when Roman guards stopped the thieves and demanded to search the bag, the thieves prayed to Catherine to protect them. When the guards opened the bag, it appeared filled with hundreds of fresh rose petals instead of a severed head. Once the smugglers crossed safely back into Tuscany, the mummified head appeared again. Today, her preserved head is displayed in the massive Gothic Basilica of San Domenico (often called the Basilica Cateriniana), resting inside the frescoed chapel where she spent much of her youth in prayer.

Visiting the Church of Santa Caterina was a truly special and moving experience. The church itself is beautiful and filled with history, but what made the visit especially memorable was the opportunity to see the relic of Saint Catherine. Being in the presence of such an important relic gives the church a unique spiritual significance and creates a deep sense of reverence. The atmosphere is peaceful, sacred, and inspiring. Whether you are religious, interested in history, or simply appreciate beautiful places, this church is well worth a visit. It is one of those rare places that feels genuinely holy and leaves a lasting impression long after you leave. A very special and meaningful stop during our time in Sicily. No tickets needed, free entrance. Not very well known. For Catholics it’s a must way more significant than visiting the Duomo.

Nice place to visit and pray. Free entry. There is a lot of free space inside which allows you better experience how huge it is inside. There are a lot of parking spots near the for trace which is 5 minute walk (in shadowed alley).

This is the place where Saint Catherine of Siena — one of the patron saints of Italy — used to pray during her lifetime. It was also from here that she set out for France, determined to persuade the Pope to return to Rome and restore the papacy to the Vatican. Sadly, she passed away in Rome and never had the chance to come back to her beloved hometown. However, part of her sacred relics is preserved here. I’ve also visited her other relics in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome and in another shrine in Venice — the last two photos show those places. Saint Catherine was a woman of great compassion and remarkable courage.