Modica

Some prestigious works

Inside the church there are valuable works of art including the Tavola di Sant’Alberto (Panel of St. Albert), the Madonna del Latte and the Annunciation. The former was perhaps part of a polyptych, a painting composition that also included other panels.
The painting depicts St. Albert with a lily and a book in one hand and a crucifix in the other. The work dates back to the early 16th century. According to some scholars the panel was painted between 1513 and 1517 by Leonardo da Vinci’s student, Cesare de Sesto, when he lived in Sicily.
The Madonna del Latte is an interesting sculpture made of papier-mâché, a much more delicate material than classic marble, wood or bronze. The work dates from around the 14th century and is located to the right of the church atrium.
scultura Madonna del Latte tela santa maria maddalena
The Annunciation is a sculptural group in white marble, created by the workshop of a Palermo-born artist, Giandomenico Gagini.
The faces of the angel and the Virgin were carved with extreme delicateness and both the blue dress of Mary and the angel’s hair were finely coloured.

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The disastrous earthquake

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The colours of the cathedral

A square as the heart of the city

The Burgos crucifix

Norman apses

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

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

A long reconstruction

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The theatre of taste

A hall for the feasts

Wonderful quick decorations

Many owners, one palace

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Some masterpieces

A small room with a golden entrance

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Searching for colour

A triumph of colour

The Maiolica of the staircase

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The church of Carmine

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

A city in colour

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A miniature city

The chocolate of Modica

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A talking palace

Discovering the mother church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Feast days

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A prominent church

Feasting in Palazzolo

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Two illustrious patron saints

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A new site for a new church

The interior and its masterpieces

A symbol for the town

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

One city, three sites

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

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The internal colours

The Staircase of Angels

A colourful floor

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Between white and black

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

One city, two sites

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The city of museums

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A feast only for Scicli

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

From International Gothic to present day

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A majestic and luminous church

Some prestigious works

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The wall comes to life

A museum to save a tradition

An eagle-shaped city

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

A half-Baroque church

The two churches

Prominent façade

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

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

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins