L’Oratorio di Santa Caterina
The Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria is a gem of mountain Romanesque architecture, located a short distance from Santa Maria.
The Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria located at a short distance from Santa Maria, is a jewl of mountain Romanesque style. It is a building constructed in opus quadratum measuring approximately 9.50 meters in length and 4.50 meters in width. The façade features a portal with a lunette and a rounded arch while the apse shows three single-lancet windows. The rectangular plan interior is divided into two bays with cross vaults.
The fresco cycle in the first nave shows themes related to Novissimi: Hell on the left and Heaven on the right. On the ceiling we can see the four founders of Christian theology. Unknown is the author of this cycle but, certainly, they were well-informed artists from Tuscan or Romagna school possessing deep painting knowledge of the trends of the second half of the XVth century.
The first bay of the church is devoted to the Novissimi: Hell, Heaven and Purgatory.
On the counter – facade wall , the Last Judgement unfolds around the entrance door. On the left, the Leviathan swallows up the souls while he is assisted by characters with bagpipes and a beret. This image is difficult to interpret. Among the supplicants there are upside-down turned characters , maybe referring to Dante’s simoniacs. On the right, there is the vivid scene of the resurrection of the corpses, while an angel plays the trumpet of judgement the corpses pop out of the earth. Alfeo Giacomelli interpreted the upward person as the prophet Elijah with reference to the Carmelite spirituality.
The left wall is totally taken up by Heaven. In the middle, the Virgin surrounded by angelic choirs is being crowned. Always in the middle, Archangel Michael is depicted with his spear piercing the dragon and the scales for weighing souls.
His presence takes on a special significance in a church devoted to Santa Caterina because, according to the legend , it was exactly this Archangel who inspired the saint during her debate with the philosophers. On the sides there are Apostles recognized by their attributes, prophets, founders of orders, popes and bishops. Below, a group of male and female characters has been identified as the patrons. The angels surrounding the central mandorla , dressed in different colours hint at their belonging to the three choirs of the first angelic hierarchy, Cherubs, Seraphs and Thrones. Other angels complete the scene.
The right wall devoted to Hell is, unfortunately, greatly damaged. In the middle, a monstruous evil spirit is surrounded by damned people who are subjected to Dante inspired punishments and is soaked in a sea of flames. Always on the right, there are characters identifiable as popes, bishops and cardinals recognizable for their headwear.
The cross vault features candle- carrying angels in the spandrels and, in the medallions, the fathers of the Church, Girolamo, Gregorio Magno, Ambrogio and Agostino. The latter being represented here is due to the fact that Caterina because of her dispute with the philosophers, was summoned as patron saint of theology.
The arch between the two bays features symbolic figures that link the two cycles of imagery: Death on the left and Youth on the right, with a young woman (symbolizing faith) beneath the former and the head of a bishop (partially damaged) beneath the latter.
The second bay is dedicated to the life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, depicted according to medieval legend
The frescoes from the right and left lunettes are now housed in the Church of Santa Maria. The back wall features a loggia with three arches supported by classical pillars. In the central section, where a single window now stands, there was likely a depiction of the Mystical Marriage of Catherine, with the Madonna enthroned holding the Child. In the pendentives, the Announcing Angel appears on the left and the Annunciata on the right. Above, a Crucifixion is shown between two angels, accompanied by Mary and Saint John.
The ribbed vault displays angels in the pendentives, God the Father, and the evangelists Matthew, Mark, and John in medallions. The central keystone bears the monogram of Saint Bernardino.
In the presbytery area, on the left, lies a sarcophagus traditionally identified as that of Saint Catherine, modeled after the sanctuary on Mount Sinai. Engravings of crosses, palmettes, and other symbols recall her martyrdom.
At the right-hand corner of the presbytery once stood a spear tip (now stolen), which tradition associated with the martyrdom of Saint Acacius. Against the right wall, a 18th-century polychrome statue represents Saint Catherine.
