Catania

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

sight
A hypnotic floor

With a splendid geometric design of curved and broken lines pointing towards the centre, the floor of the church of San Giuliano (St. Julian) mesmerises all who look upon it.
The effect is amplified by the contrast between the colours of the floor.
The red stone alternating with white marble with light grey veins is enough to make your head spin.

hearing
The singing of the Benedictines

On the Feast of St. Agatha, the saint’s statue is carried around the city streets in procession.
The long route takes us in front of the church of San Giuliano (St. Julian), where the devout Benedictine nuns, hidden behind the grilles, hear prayers, honour the Saint and take part in one of the most important celebrations.

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

A long reconstruction

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The church of Carmine

New roads for Catania

A new site for a new church

A talking palace

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A prominent church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A hall for the feasts

Searching for colour

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

A square as the heart of the city

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Some masterpieces

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A miniature city

An eagle-shaped city

A feast only for Scicli

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Norman apses

A colourful floor

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The internal colours

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The chocolate of Modica

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

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

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The city of museums

Between white and black

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Feast days

A majestic and luminous church

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Staircase of Angels

A half-Baroque church

A small room with a golden entrance

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The wall comes to life

The two churches

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

The interior and its masterpieces

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

Some prestigious works

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

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

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

One city, two sites

The Baroque town by the sea

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

A museum to save a tradition

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Discovering the mother church

A triumph of colour

The colours of the cathedral

The theatre of taste

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The disastrous earthquake

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

One city, three sites

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Burgos crucifix

Wonderful quick decorations

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A new site for a new city

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A symbol for the town

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A city in colour

Prominent façade

From International Gothic to present day

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Many owners, one palace

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Two illustrious patron saints