Ragusa

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

sight
A valley for Palazzo La Rocca

The green valley overlooked by Palazzo La Rocca is a riot of colours that vary with the changing seasons.
From the strong bright colours of spring, it moves on to shades of yellow and ochre in summer due to the lack of rain. As it reaches the end of summer, the colours are reborn with autumn fruits, such as pomegranate and quince.
Finally, winter arrives, which by nature makes everything darker, grey and less luxuriant.

hearing
The noises of a bygone era

The corbels of Palazzo La Rocca are a memory from a bygone era, especially the balcony with the flute and tenor mandola players, which brings to mind the sweet melodies played at the great parties held at the Palazzo, one of the most important events for the aristocracy. Delicate sounds accompanied the balls and dances in the great hall!

smell
The smell of the stone

The entrance to Palazzo La Rocca is extremely evocative.
With a little imagination you can picture Don Saverio La Rocca climbing the pietra pece staircase at the entrance.
What makes the atrium unique, however, is the strong smell of petroleum that envelops the entire space. It’s hard to believe, but the stone’s composition gives the room a sharp scent that verges on unpleasant, though it is fascinating to think that nature was able to create such a strong-smelling stone.

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A colourful floor

A small room with a golden entrance

The Maiolica of the staircase

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

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

Between white and black

The church of Carmine

A prominent church

Norman apses

A symbol for the town

New roads for Catania

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A majestic and luminous church

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A long reconstruction

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

An eagle-shaped city

A city in colour

The interior and its masterpieces

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A talking palace

The disastrous earthquake

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Feast days

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

A half-Baroque church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

A triumph of colour

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The Burgos crucifix

A miniature city

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The theatre of taste

The two churches

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

The Baroque town by the sea

A museum to save a tradition

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Searching for colour

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The wall comes to life

A new site for a new city

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new site for a new church

The city of museums

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Prominent façade

Some prestigious works

The chocolate of Modica

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

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

One city, two sites

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

Some masterpieces

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Two illustrious patron saints

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

A feast only for Scicli

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Discovering the mother church

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Limestone, the colour of harmony

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The internal colours

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Wonderful quick decorations

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Many owners, one palace

One city, three sites

The Staircase of Angels