Oratorio di Santa Caterina delle Ruote

About the museum

The Oratorio di Santa Caterina delle Ruote is a Gothic chapel in via del Carota, at Ponte a Ema, in the municipality of Bagno a Ripoli. It was built by the Florentine Alberti family between 1348 and 1387 and has remarkably preserved its original structure: a single hall divided into two bays by a transverse arch, with cross vaults and a square apse.

The interior is decorated with a fresco cycle devoted to the life and martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The apse was painted before 1360 by the Maestro di Barberino and Pietro Nelli, while in the late 1380s Spinello Aretino frescoed the first bay, by the testamentary wish of the wealthy Florentine Benedetto di Nerozzo Alberti. Alberti coats of arms appear on all the walls.

In the 20th century the altarpiece by Agnolo Gaddi was stolen; it was later recovered and is now in the storerooms of the Uffizi. The oratory has belonged to the Comune di Bagno a Ripoli since 1988: it was restored between 1992 and 2009 and has since been opened to the public. Visits are organised by the Comune’s Ufficio Cultura.

Highlights

• Fresco cycle on the life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
• Frescoes by Spinello Aretino in the first bay
• Apse frescoed by the Maestro di Barberino and Pietro Nelli
• Well-preserved 14th-century Gothic structure

Operated by

Comune di Bagno a Ripoli – Ufficio Cultura

Visitors per year

approx. 2,000

Admission & discounts

The visit involves an entrance ticket; the amount is not published on the Comune’s website.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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