St Catherine, Żurrieq

Żurrieq is one of 10 parishes that was already in existence in 1436. The present church is believed to have been built between 1634 and 1659 on plans prepared by Matteolo Saliba and was dedicated in 1731 by Bishop Alpheran de Bussan.

The façade of the parish church dedicated to St Catherine has a wide central bay with clustered Doric pilasters and a large central entrance with a wide moulded architrave topped with a double pediment. The upper section is divided from the lower by a thin cornice and also containing clustered pilasters of the Ionic Order. At the centre is a large stained glass window set within a thick moulded frame and topped by an escutcheon. Above is a triangular pediment with a large statue of the Virgin Mary on the crest.

The lateral panels form part of the bell-towers and have pilasters identical to those of the ground and first levels of the central bay, which continue to the sculptured pinnacles. The bell-towers consist of clustered Corinthian pilasters on each corner, large bell-windows with balustrades, pediments with oculi and elaborate pinnacles above.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority scheduled the parish church as a Grade 1 monument on August 26, as per Government Notice 782.