Santa Caterina Church & Monastery
Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
A Baroque church beside Piazza Pretoria. Climbing to the monastery roof gives you a view over the old town's domes, and the cloister café sells desserts made from the nuns' traditional recipes.
The Church of Santa Caterina belongs to a Dominican convent. It was completed in the 16th century, and in the 18th century it was decorated with marble inlays, frescoes and sculptures, making it dazzling. The monastery is open to visitors, and you can climb to the roof terrace for a close-up view of the Pretoria Fountain, La Martorana and the red domes of San Cataldo. The café 'Il Monastero dei Sapori' in the cloister makes almond biscuits, cannoli and Sicilian ricotta cakes according to the nuns' traditional recipes, and it is very popular. The church and the roof have separate tickets.
Opening hours
About 10:00–18:00 (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Fontana Pretoria
- La Martorana & San Cataldo
- Quattro Canti
- Chiesa del Gesù (Casa Professa)
- La Vucciria
- Ballarò Market
- Oratorio del Rosario di Santa Cita
- Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum