The BOV Sta. Caterina d’Italia Main Cupola project was officially inaugurated today, Friday, the 25th of November 2011 to coincide with the feast of the patron saint.

In March 2009, Bank of Valletta had agreed to fully finance the considerable cost of restoration of the main cupola as part of its commitment towards the community.

The Church of St. Catherine of Italy was designed by Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar for the Italian Knights. It adjoins the Auberge d’Italie and the church is still used today by the Italian community. Built in September 1572 alongside the Auberge d’Italie, the church has undergone extensive external and internal restoration during the last 10 years. Following the restoration of the exterior of the church in 2003, the interior had remained in a bad state of repair. The decorations of the cupola suffered powdering and an extensive loss of the pictorial layer. The church endured centuries of exposure to the natural elements including rainwater and siesmic activity together with damage relating to the war.

The cupola of the church is divided into eight segments by ribs that descend from the apex of the lantern and frame the large medallions that characterise the mural decorations that depict scenes from the life of St. Catherine attributed to the Italian Baroque artist Mattia Preti (1613-1699) who was also responsible for the transformation of the interior of St John’s Co-Cathedral. Indeed, the decoration of the cupola of St. Catherine may have been Preti’s training ground for the Cathedral.

The painstaking restoration works were entrusted to internationally acclaimed Italian company Giuseppe Mantella Restauri who have extensive experience in Malta having worked at St John’s Co-Cathedral.

“Bank of Valletta is proud to have participated in this prestigious project that has restored this historic and artistic gem to its former glory,” said Bank of Valletta CEO Tonio Depasquale. “Over the 30 months of this project, we have worked very close with the restorers and church curator Fr Gino Gauci to ensure the highest level of work that will see this church return as a major attraction in our capital city. The latest conservation and restoration practises have been employed to ensure that this priceless part of our heritage will be preserved for future generations.”

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