San Domenico (St. Dominic) was founded by the Dominicans in 1125. The basilica contains the head and finger of St Catherine of Siena in a reliquary.

The current church of San Domenico dates from 1226. From this church you have a good view of the Duomo of Siena. About a block below the church is the "Santuario" which is a convent located on the sight of St. Catherine's home.

The chapel off the west end (to the right as you enter) preserves the only genuine portrait of St. Catherine od Siena, painted by Andrea Vanni.

The Chapel of St. Catherine has scenes from Saint Catherine's life. Most were painted by Sodoma in 1526, but the scene of St. Catherine performing an excorcism was painted by Francisco Vanni in 1593.  This side chapel is unassuming and a quiet place to kneel in prayer.

St. Catherine's body is buried at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva near the Pantheon in Rome. According to the legend her mother pleaded with the Domincans to have her body buried near her home in Siena and with the help of Catherine's confessor a compromise was reached and her head was sent home to Siena but the body remains buried beneath the main altar in Rome.

Apr-Oct 7am-12:55pm and 3-6:30pm; Nov-Mar 9am-12:55pm and 3-6pm   telephone:  0577/280893