Valletta - Church of Ste Catherine

Adjoining the Auberge d'Italie is the Church of St Catherine, originally the church of the Italian Knights and now a parish church, with its south side flanking Victory Square. On the other side of the square is the Church of Our Lady of Victories. Here the foundation-stone of Valletta was laid in 1566.

Cassar designed this church for the Italian knights. The facade and porch were added in 1713 and the octagonal church is still used today by the Italian community. The main altarpiece of the Martyrdom of Ste Catherine is one of Mattia Preti's favorite subjects.