Introduction to Val di Noto

Fantasies of light and colour

Introduction to the route

The proposed educational route retraces the main events of the history of the Val di Noto.
Through the suggested itineraries it intends to lead younger children along their discovery of the eight towns: Catania, Militello in Val di Catania, Caltagirone, Ragusa, Modica, Scicli, Palazzolo Acreide and Noto.
This is a unique chance and opportunity to examine a territory rich in history.
Following the tragic earthquake of 1693, the towns of the Val di Noto were rebuilt with such homogeneity and richness from an artistic and architectural point of view that they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The post-earthquake reconstruction is examined through many aspects that revolve around the brightness of paint colours, effects and plays on light and shadow that make the heritage a particularly fascinating and completely unusual sight. As well as featuring prominently in the lively character of the communities that inhabit these places, colour accompanies our gaze in a conscious interpretation of architectural shapes and unique landscapes, becoming an inspiration for artisanal production, too.
The children, then, can expect to experience many, powerful emotions.

One city, three sites

Two illustrious patron saints

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giovanni Battista

Feasting in Palazzolo

The Maiolica of the staircase

A long reconstruction

Searching for colour

New roads for Catania

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A feast only for Scicli

A prominent church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Burgos crucifix

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A symbol for the town

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The colours of the cathedral

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The wall comes to life

Discovering the mother church

Freedom of worship and the role of the Catholic Church in the diffusion of Baroque

A hall for the feasts

A new site for a new church

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A half-Baroque church

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Feast days

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell the Benedictine Monastery and San NicoIò l’Arena

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Giuliano ai Crociferi

A miniature city

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The role of the religious orders in rebuilding the Val di Noto

The senses tell the story of the church of Santa Maria del Carmelo

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The interior and its masterpieces

A talking palace

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista

The senses tell the Mother Church of San Nicolò and of the Santissimo Salvatore

The senses tell the story of the Badia di Sant’Agata

Prominent façade

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Between white and black

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A city in colour

A museum to save a tradition

The city of museums

A triumph of colour

A Nobel Prize in Modica

One city, two sites

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A small room with a golden entrance

Norman apses

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Staircase of Angels

An eagle-shaped city

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell the story of the staircase of Santa Maria del Monte

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Some masterpieces

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The two churches

From the contrast of the exterior to the internal jubilation of colours

Some prestigious works

A square as the heart of the city

The church of Carmine

Many owners, one palace

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Church of San Giuliano (St. Julian) on Via dei Crociferi: reconstruction

The theatre of taste

A colourful floor

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The internal colours

A new site for a new city

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Wonderful quick decorations

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph