Noto

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The harmonious architecture and homogeneity of Noto stone create such a scenic balance that the city looks as though it were built in one night.
Noto was actually built over half a century by various architects and craftspeople. Noto omogeneita e l'armonia archtettureThe work of the architect Angelo Italia was fundamental: he organised the city space and created splendid scenographic effects, transforming squares and streets into stages.
No less important was Rosario Gagliardi .
His constant presence in Noto allowed him to closely monitor all of his construction sites and to teach and prepare new, young architects. Upon his death, his works were completed by one of his students, Vincenzo Sinatra , who never forgot the expert’s teachings.
None of this could have been achieved without good basic organisation.
Thanks to Baron Giuseppe Asmundo, the land for constructing the new buildings was allocated fairly and the height of the buildings was also clearly defined. In this way, the buildings were all the same, creating a harmonious and homogeneous landscape.
The choice of white limestone , was also important.This local stone, when lit up by the sun, takes on a golden yellow colour reminiscent of honey.Its appearance has remained unchanged over the centuries; minimal interventions were made and you can still admire it in all its beauty and grace today.The effect is a landscape wrapped in an ethereal light.

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Discovering the mother church

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A new site for a new church

Norman apses

A symbol for the town

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A square as the heart of the city

A city in colour

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A colourful floor

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

The Burgos crucifix

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

Feasting in Palazzolo

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The city of museums

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

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

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

An eagle-shaped city

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Some prestigious works

A feast only for Scicli

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The interior and its masterpieces

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Limestone, the colour of harmony

New roads for Catania

The Baroque town by the sea

A hall for the feasts

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The disastrous earthquake

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

A museum to save a tradition

One city, three sites

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Some masterpieces

The church of Carmine

The Staircase of Angels

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A small room with a golden entrance

A new site for a new city

Searching for colour

A triumph of colour

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Between white and black

A talking palace

The theatre of taste

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A half-Baroque church

Many owners, one palace

A long reconstruction

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

The wall comes to life

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The two churches

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A prominent church

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The internal colours

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

One city, two sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A majestic and luminous church

From International Gothic to present day

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

Feast days

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A miniature city

The chocolate of Modica

Prominent façade