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.

The church of Carmine

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

A majestic and luminous church

Norman apses

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

New roads for Catania

Searching for colour

Between white and black

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

The chocolate of Modica

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A triumph of colour

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The internal colours

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Many owners, one palace

A colourful floor

The disastrous earthquake

Wonderful quick decorations

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

One city, two sites

The city of museums

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A new site for a new city

A city in colour

A symbol for the town

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

From International Gothic to present day

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Two illustrious patron saints

An eagle-shaped city

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A new site for a new church

Discovering the mother church

A long reconstruction

The theatre of taste

A museum to save a tradition

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Prominent façade

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

A feast only for Scicli

The colours of the cathedral

Feasting in Palazzolo

The Maiolica of the staircase

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Staircase of Angels

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A talking palace

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A prominent church

A half-Baroque church

Some prestigious works

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A hall for the feasts

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The two churches

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A square as the heart of the city

The wall comes to life

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

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

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A miniature city

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

Some masterpieces

The Burgos crucifix

One city, three sites

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Feast days

The façade used as a puppet theatre