A journey through rooms, memory, and spirituality
The visit continues in the Oratory of the Crucifix, a 17th-century church in Baroque style where an ancient crucifix is preserved, considered one of the most precious in Tuscany. According to tradition, it was in front of this cross that Catherine received the stigmata in 1375. An episode that makes this space even more intense.
Then you arrive at the Oratory of the Kitchen, the oldest part of the Benincasa family's home. Today, this room is decorated with large canvases from the late 16th century that depict the most important episodes of Saint Catherine's life. The floor, still composed of original tiles from the 16th century, is striking: a detail that powerfully conveys the sense of time and permanence.
Catherine's little room
After passing the bookshop and descending to the basement, you reach one of the most emotional spaces of the sanctuary: Catherine's little room. Small, simple, silent, it still holds the memory of her presence. Here she prayed and rested, resting her head on a stone she used as a pillow, which is still visible.
The walls, frescoed with scenes from her life since childhood, tell the story of a girl who would speak to the whole world from Siena.
Did you know?
The Church of Saint Catherine in Fontebranda is now the Oratory of the Noble Contrada dell’Oca, a place that continues to live in the present. It is also known for a curious connection: it is indeed the contrada of the Sienese singer Gianna Nannini.
