Chiesa di Santa Caterina

Santa Caterina is an octagonal Dominican church in Livorno’s Venezia quarter. Begun in 1720, it is known for its dome, its Vasari altarpiece and nineteenth-century frescoes.

Why it matters

Designed initially by Giovanni del Fantasia, the church was built over an extended period. Problems with the dome led to its enclosure within a substantial octagonal tower, which gives the building its distinctive profile.

What to notice

Inside, the octagonal plan is ringed by chapels. Giorgio Vasari’s Coronation of the Virgin, painted around 1571, is the principal altarpiece; after its removal during the Napoleonic era, it was donated to the church by Antonio Filicchi and returned to the altar in 2007. The dome’s eight compartments were frescoed by Cesare Maffei between 1860 and 1876. The planned marble façade was never completed, leaving the exterior in brick.

Context and history

The first stone was laid on 17 September 1720. Work was directed at different stages by Alessandro Saller, Giovanni Masini and Giuseppe Ruggeri. The church replaced an earlier Dominican foundation and formed part of the religious life of the Venezia Nuova quarter.