St. Caterina Church

Once a cloistered convent, construction began in 1630 and was only completed in 1714 thanks to the intervention of Archbishop Orsini.

HISTORY

In the castle square, you will find the Church and Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, once a cloistered convent, the construction of which was started in 1630 and only completed in 1714 thanks to the intervention of Archbishop Orsini.

Audio-Guide

Montefusco, which was at the height of its political importance at the time, had more than one male convent, but the lack of a cloistered female monastery was felt. Noble families were particularly sensitive to this lack, and there were many of them in Montefusco, who were forced to send their daughters away to study.

It was precisely 13 noble families who wanted, at their own expense, to start building the monastery in that year.
The foundation stone was laid on 12 November 1633. The work, which was well under way, was suspended in 1656 because of the cholera that ravaged the entire region. With the help of Archbishop Orsini, the work was completed on 1 July 1699.

ART

The church has a barrel-vaulted nave and a beautiful 18th-century floor of Montefuscan majolica.

Audio-Guide

Above the high altar, there is a valuable painting of the Crowned Madonna, on one of the side altars a painting of the Sacred Heart, donated by Pope Gregory XVI, and on another, a painting of Our Lady of the Rosary. In one corner, resting on a chair, there is a pillow for lace-making, and for this reason it is called the “Madonna of the lace”.

In the Monastery there is a wonderful cloister with a roof garden looking south-east over hills and villages. The same vast and profound panorama opens up from the adjoining Piazza di San Nicola de Franchis, with its important aristocratic buildings, which can be accessed by proceeding along the façade of the Monastery, where, above a portal, a precious stone bas-relief reproducing the coats of arms of the first four founding families is still visible.

The other sites of historical and cultural interest to visit in Montefusco!

St. Caterina Church

Once a cloistered convent, construction began in 1630 and was only completed in 1714 thanks to the intervention of Archbishop Orsini.

Sanctuary Madonna

St. Bartholomew Church

Santa Caterina Church

St. John’s Church