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.

Prominent façade

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A half-Baroque church

The interior and its masterpieces

The church of Carmine

Between white and black

The disastrous earthquake

Norman apses

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A symbol for the town

The Staircase of Angels

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

An eagle-shaped city

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Burgos crucifix

A square as the heart of the city

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The colours of the cathedral

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

A talking palace

A new site for a new church

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

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Feast days

Feasting in Palazzolo

The two churches

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A triumph of colour

A feast only for Scicli

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A colourful floor

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

Some masterpieces

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

Discovering the mother church

Searching for colour

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

A hall for the feasts

New roads for Catania

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The theatre of taste

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

From International Gothic to present day

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A new site for a new city

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The city of museums

One city, two sites

A miniature city

A prominent church

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Two illustrious patron saints

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

The internal colours

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

Wonderful quick decorations

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Some prestigious works

The chocolate of Modica

A majestic and luminous church

The wall comes to life

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A city in colour

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A long reconstruction

A museum to save a tradition

One city, three sites

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A small room with a golden entrance

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century