The Church of Santa Caterina in Pienza is a historical religious building located just outside the town, in the captivating Val d’Orcia landscape.
It is easy to get to by taking a pleasant walk from the historic centre, which offers beautiful panoramic views and has always been a very popular place among the people of Pienza during their free time.
The church is named after Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a highly-venerated saint in the Christian world. It stands on the site of an ancient hermitage that was occupied by a Venetian hermit in 1609 and who later mysteriously disappeared. The existence of this hermitage dates back to 1344, as confirmed by a tombstone that is still preserved and was previously located inside a small chapel.
The building was constructed, in its current form, at the end of the 17th century; it was already open for worship in 1722 and was solemnly consecrated in 1731.
The architecture of the church is simple and basic: the plain brick façade has a central portal with two small windows alongside it and a semicircular opening above it.
The interior has a single nave, consistent with the quiet character of the place.
As for the works of art, the Baroque-style main altar displays a 14th century fresco by the Siena school depicting the Virgin Mary and Child, surrounded by a 17th century canvas. This is a particularly venerated work of art, which may have come from an ancient tabernacle.
There are also two stucco side altars, decorated with 17th century paintings.
On the choir, there is a mechanical pipe organ, built in 1961 and installed in the church in 2018. Because it is a filial church, its opening hours may vary: it is often accessible for visits and prayers, but does not have set hours like the town’s main churches.
