SANTA CATERINA MUSEUM (The Museum of St. Catherine), Via Santa Caterina - Treviso |
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The works of construction of the Church and of the monastery, today
main seat of Musei Civici in Treviso, began in 1346 in the place which had been given
over to "piazza della legna" and where there was the Da Camino’s Palace long ago; then this
building was demolished by anger of the people in 1318. |
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The construction of the Church, begun when Andrea Cornaro
was lower court judge, was completed only at the end of 14th century after many interruptions.
The Cappella degli Innocenti (so called to remember exactly the Innocents sacrificed by Erode) was added
to St. Catherine’s Complex; it is expected that this chapel has been part of pre-existent Palace.
Since then its use was changed several times over the history becoming Church of Convento dei Servi di
Maria, dedicated to St. Catherine and then seat of other religious orders. |
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The outside façade of the Church is characterized by a double
lancet window (located over the door) made by Istrian stone contained in a Gothic arch.
Those shapes are taken up again also inside big and single nave, which shows on its walls many beautiful frescoes
we may admire also on two ceilings of the cross vaults; these ceilings coincide with two parts in which the Church
is divided ideally by a big middle round arch.
During the Napoleonic occupation, in the first years of 19th century, the Complex of St. Catherine became military
arsenal, from 1820 barracks and then, till the last war, seat of Military District. |
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During its history the Complex was restored some times, the most
considerable restoration dates back to the end of 16th century, when it thinks that the frescoes were covered with
coat of plaster, taken off only at the end of the Second World War. |
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Inside the Church remarkable frescoes are still kept, among these there are
some frescoes made by Tomaso da Modena; the most famous of these is dated 1358, which portrays St. Catherine
holding a model of Treviso. The words in Latin, spoken by the Saint, are readable on the fresco easily, she is
interceding for the safety of the town; the Chiesa di Santa Caterina (Church of St. Catherine) suffered serious damages which involved the
main apse during the War of Cambrai. |
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The restorations have been ended since few time and
thus the complex of St. Caterina became the museum seat containing the frescoes of " Storie di St. Orsola "
inside by Tomaso da Modena; this work is one of the most important masterpieces of Italian art in the 15th
century. This work was rescued from the Chiesa di Santa Margherita (Church of St. Margherita) thanks
to Luigi Bailo’s intervention in the second half of 19th century. |
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[ the interiors and the art exhibitions .... ] |
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