Ragusa

One city, two sites

The town of Ragusa Ibla is built across three different hilly areas separated by a deep valley.
The town is the union of Ibla and Ragusa: Ibla was founded by the Sicels, before the birth of Christ. Ragusa, on the other hand, has much less ancient origins and is linked to the tragic earthquake.foto città nel complesso Following the earthquake, when deciding where to rebuild the town, no agreement could be reached.
The population was divided into two factions: the sangiorgiari suggested the old site; the sangiovannari sought to rebuild it elsewhere.
The former were aristocrats of very old lineage who lived in the parish of San Giorgio (St. George); the Sangiovannari, on the other hand, who lived outside the walls in the district of San Giovanni (St. John), were made up of the poor and the nouveau riche. Neither side wanted to give in, so two independent towns were built. foto IblaIbla was rebuilt on a lower hill than Ragusa and the old road layout was maintained.
Ragusa was planned perfectly with a system of roads that crossed at right angles.
Though rebuilt independently and autonomously from one another, Ragusa and Ibla share the style of Baroque art.
Over time the clear division was lost and the inhabitants began to live in the intermediate space, but it was not until 1926 that Ibla and Ragusa were reunited.foto ragusa

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

New roads for Catania

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

The colours of the cathedral

A new site for a new church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A half-Baroque church

A prominent church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Many owners, one palace

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Staircase of Angels

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

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A square as the heart of the city

A talking palace

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The internal colours

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A museum to save a tradition

A colourful floor

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

The church of Carmine

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The interior and its masterpieces

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Maiolica of the staircase

Searching for colour

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The theatre of taste

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

A symbol for the town

The city of museums

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Feast days

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

From International Gothic to present day

A miniature city

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

Some prestigious works

A small room with a golden entrance

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The wall comes to life

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

One city, two sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Wonderful quick decorations

A feast only for Scicli

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A triumph of colour

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Prominent façade

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A long reconstruction

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Norman apses

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The chocolate of Modica

Two illustrious patron saints

The two churches

A city in colour

The Burgos crucifix

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

One city, three sites

Some masterpieces

The disastrous earthquake

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

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Baroque town by the sea

An eagle-shaped city

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Discovering the mother church