Historic revival! 16th century St Catherine of Italy Church in Valletta to be restored and opened to the public
Exciting news! Heritage Malta and the Archdiocese of Malta have joined forces to restore the Church of St Catherine of Italy in Valletta and open it to the public through MUŻA – the National Community Art Museum. This partnership shows a strong commitment to preserving this iconic church, which dates back to the time of the Knights of St John.
St. Catherine of Italy is particularly important because it’s the only Hospitaller church still attached to its original auberge, the Auberge d’Italie, which is now home to MUŻA. This means that visitors will now be able to explore both the church’s fascinating history and its connection to the museum in one spot.
As part of the agreement, Heritage Malta will lead the restoration work and provide information in Maltese, English, and Italian to make it accessible for everyone. Both Heritage Malta and the Archdiocese will also share the responsibility for keeping the church well-maintained for years to come.
Originally built in 1576 by Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, the church underwent a major makeover in 1713, thanks to Romano Carapecchia, an Italian Baroque architect who designed its striking façade and porch. It’s worth noting that the church survived the 1693 earthquake, which caused severe damage throughout Valletta.
One of the church’s main artistic highlights is the altarpiece of ‘The Martyrdom of St Catherine’, painted by the famous Mattia Preti, a Baroque artist from Calabria, who was tasked with decorating the church shortly after arriving in Malta in the late 1650s. The church also features eight monochrome dome segments depicting scenes from St. Catherine’s life - another beautiful example of Mattia Preti’s work.
Have you ever visited this historic church?