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.

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

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The two churches

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The disastrous earthquake

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A city in colour

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The colours of the cathedral

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

One city, three sites

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The interior and its masterpieces

A miniature city

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A small room with a golden entrance

Limestone, the colour of harmony

An eagle-shaped city

Some masterpieces

A talking palace

The Baroque town by the sea

The theatre of taste

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A square as the heart of the city

Some prestigious works

Two illustrious patron saints

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A long reconstruction

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A hall for the feasts

Discovering the mother church

A symbol for the town

A triumph of colour

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A prominent church

One city, two sites

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

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

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

A feast only for Scicli

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

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

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

New roads for Catania

Many owners, one palace

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The internal colours

Feast days

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Maiolica of the staircase

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Norman apses

A new site for a new church

A museum to save a tradition

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Prominent façade

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A majestic and luminous church

The chocolate of Modica

The wall comes to life

The city of museums

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Searching for colour

The Burgos crucifix

From International Gothic to present day

Feasting in Palazzolo

The Staircase of Angels

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A colourful floor

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Between white and black

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A new site for a new city

The church of Carmine

A half-Baroque church

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra