Catania

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

One of the most evocative rooms of the monastery is the kitchen.
foto cucina della portaLike the refectory, antirefectory, library and museum, the space dedicated to preparing food was designed by Giovan Battista Vaccarini and its construction began in 1739.
foto cucina dei benedettiniThe architect had to take into account the rules of monastic architecture, which meant separating the kitchen from the other rooms. This way, if there was a fire, it would not spread to the other rooms.
Similarly, the passageways leading to the refectory as well as being narrow were equipped with multiple barriers.
The kitchen underwent various changes over the years, but the structure has remained the same with the hearths in the centre, a huge brazier placed in an octagonal “chamber”.
The maiolica decorations that enrich the structure create splendid orange and blue squares with a white background of abstract motifs. The floor is just as surprising. Also made with colourful maiolica tiles, it extends across the whole room. However, the floor is not simple or uniform; it is divided into eight parts with two different alternating decorations.
The first is a white floor with fine blue, black and yellow geometric decorations that cover the smaller portions; the other is larger and more colourful, where yellow and green dominate the blue, orange and white decoration. foto Dettaglio maioliche

A museum to save a tradition

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Searching for colour

The two churches

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A new site for a new church

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A majestic and luminous church

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The disastrous earthquake

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A prominent church

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The internal colours

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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Norman apses

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A city in colour

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The Burgos crucifix

Feast days

A half-Baroque church

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The theatre of taste

A talking palace

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Wonderful quick decorations

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Connections with other UNESCO sites

Between white and black

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

From International Gothic to present day

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The wall comes to life

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Baroque town by the sea

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The church of Carmine

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

New roads for Catania

A miniature city

Prominent façade

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The interior and its masterpieces

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A triumph of colour

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A symbol for the town

Many owners, one palace

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Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Two illustrious patron saints

The Staircase of Angels

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

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A colourful floor

Some prestigious works

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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The colours of the cathedral

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A hall for the feasts

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Feasting in Palazzolo