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.

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Some masterpieces

The church of Carmine

Many owners, one palace

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A prominent church

Discovering the mother church

One city, two sites

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Norman apses

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

One city, three sites

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Two illustrious patron saints

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

A talking palace

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Baroque town by the sea

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

A triumph of colour

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The colours of the cathedral

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A museum to save a tradition

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

The Burgos crucifix

The wall comes to life

A colourful floor

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The interior and its masterpieces

Wonderful quick decorations

The internal colours

A long reconstruction

The Maiolica of the staircase

New roads for Catania

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

A small room with a golden entrance

The disastrous earthquake

From International Gothic to present day

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Some prestigious works

A feast only for Scicli

The two churches

Prominent façade

A new site for a new city

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The theatre of taste

A miniature city

Searching for colour

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The Staircase of Angels

The chocolate of Modica

A hall for the feasts

Feast days

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Between white and black

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A symbol for the town

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A city in colour

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A half-Baroque church

The city of museums

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano