Santuario Casa di Santa Caterina
6 Costa Sant'Antonio Siena
The House of Saint Catherine of Siena
The Santuario Casa di Santa Caterina is one of Siena’s most important historical sites. It was once the home of Saint Catherine of Siena (1347–1380), one of Italy’s two patron saints and a Doctor of the Church. The house was later turned into a sanctuary to preserve her memory and honor her life.
This was the place where Catherine was born and lived with her large family. From a young age, she showed deep religious faith, spending much of her time in prayer and helping others. As a young woman, she joined the Dominican Third Order while still living at home, choosing a simple life devoted to charity, prayer, and reflection. The house became the setting for her visions and the beginning of her spiritual mission.
Saint Catherine became known throughout Italy for her writings and letters, where she spoke about peace, faith, and the unity of the Church. She also helped persuade Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome, a major event in Church history. She was declared a saint in 1461 and later recognized as a Doctor of the Church in 1970.
See also:
Siena Cathedral
The Siena Cathedral was built between the 12th and 14th centuries on the site of an older church. It was originally planned to be one of the largest churches in Europe, but these expansion plans were halted by the Black Death in 1348. Today, the Cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
The Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico is closely connected to Saint Catherine of Siena who is best known for her writings, letters, and spiritual guidance, which had a major influence on the Catholic Church. In recognition of her theological insight and lifelong devotion, she was later declared a Doctor of the Church.
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Images by Sailko, licensed under CC BY‑SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons.