Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532977
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 MARCH 2025 HERITAGE Church of St Catherine of Italy to become part of MUZA visitor experience HERITAGE Malta and the Archdiocese of Malta have signed a significant mem- orandum of understanding to restore the Church of St Catherine of Italy in Valletta and open public access through MUŻA – the National Community Art Museum. The agreement reflects the shared commitment of both entities to en- hance public appreciation of this iconic Knights-era building, which serves as the parish church for Malta's Italian com- munity. Beyond its religious functions, St Catherine of Italy is the only surviv- ing example of a Hospitaller church an- nexed to its original auberge, in this case the Auberge d'Italie, nowadays home to MUŻA. Heritage Malta will lead the restoration efforts in the church and provide inter- pretation in Maltese, English and Italian, while both entities will share upkeep re- sponsibilities. With the re-establishment of a direct link between the church and MUŻA, visitors to the museum will now be able to appreciate more fully the his- tory of the building housing it, together with the rich religious and cultural her- itage in the connected historical church. Mario Cutajar, Heritage Malta's Chair- person and MUŻA Director, comment- ed: "The changes happening in MUŻA go well beyond what is taking place in the museum's galleries. MUŻA is grow- ing in space and, more than this, in the experience it offers to the visitor. Short- ly, another space will be added to MUŻA to be enjoyed by the public." Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta's Chief Executive Officer, stated: "It gives us immense pleasure to be the architects of such a positive collaboration between State and Church. Through this agree- ment, Heritage Malta is furthering its mission and inviting locals and tourists alike to experience historic gems which were previously inaccessible – in this case the Auberge d'Italie's own church." Michael Pace Ross, Administrative Sec- retary of the Archdiocese of Malta, de- scribed this agreement as an important step in further safeguarding and sharing our rich cultural and religious heritage. "The Church of St Catherine of Italy has long been a place of worship and histor- ical significance, deeply rooted in the spiritual and artistic traditions of Malta's Italian community. Through this collab- oration, this sacred place will become more accessible through longer opening hours. Religious functions will not be af- fected." Roberto Buontempo, the Archdiocese's Head of Property, added: "By restoring and integrating this treasured church within the MUŻA visitor experience, the Church is embracing its responsibility to preserve history while fostering a greater understanding of our shared patrimony. We look forward to seeing this initiative flourish, allowing both locals and visitors to connect with the Church's spiritual and artistic legacy in a meaningful way. Originally built in 1576 to designs by Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, the church underwent a major transfor- mation in 1713 under Baroque Italian architect Romano Carapecchia, who designed its current façade and porch. Only a few years before, the church had luckily survived the 1693 earthquake. Its artistic highlights include the main al- tarpiece depicting 'The Martyrdom of St Catherine', a masterpiece by Calabrian Baroque master Mattia Preti, who was commissioned to decorate the Italian knights' conventual church shortly af- ter his arrival on the islands in the late 1650s. The eight monochrome segments of the large dome, each featuring scenes from St Catherine's life, also date to this period. the Church of St Catherine of Italy in Valletta