The capital is the top of the column. It is a connecting element between the shaft and the upper structure that it must support. Michelangelo's ionic capital is a particular capital with a festoon that joins the two spiral-shaped elements at the sides....

The town hall of Scicli, located in the historic centre of the Baroque town, is one of the places where the famous television series Inspector Montalbano is set. In the story based on novels by Andrea Camilleri, the town hall takes the name of Vigàta Commissariat. ...

The church of San Bartolomeo (St. Bartholomew) avoided the tragic earthquake of 1693. Built in the early 15th century, it was renovated starting in 1700, maintaining some of the previous structures. San Bartolomeo stands in an incredibly evocative and fascinating place. It fits perfectly between...

Elio Vittorini, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, was born in Syracuse in 1908. His final novel, "Le città del mondo" (The Cities of the World), from 1952-55 unfortunately remained unfinished and described Scicli as follows: "The town of Scicli stands at the crossroads of three vall...

The pointed or ogival arch is a typical architectural element of the Gothic period. What distinguishes it from other types of arches is the top, which has a pointed end....

A rose window is a decorative element used for façades in medieval times. It is a large circular window with stone inserts that create a converging pattern in the centre....

Leonardo Sciascia, an Italian writer born in Recalmuto in the province of Palermo, used to meet up with Gesualdo Bufalino, an illustrious poet, in a small shop in Modica near the De' Barbieri staircase. Sitting opposite each other, Sciascia said, as he enjoyed a delicious piece of chocolate: "I'm ...

The county was founded on 25 March 1296 when Frederick III of Sicily gifted it to Manfredi Chiaramonte for the courage he showed in the war against the Angevins and King James. It was a vast territory that included the cities of Modica, Ragusa, Scicli, Vittoria, Monterosso, Pozzallo, Chiaramonte, Al...

The Nobel Prize is an important award given to those who have carried out exceptional research, invented revolutionary techniques or equipment or made exceptional contributions to society. Each year prizes are awarded in the following areas: chemistry, economics, physics, literature, medicine and ...

He was the second son of Gaetano Quasimodo, a station master, and Clotilde Ragusa. He had three siblings: Enzo, Ettore and Rosina. The great poet travelled on business throughout Italy from Messina, to Florence, Reggio Calabria, Milan and Imperia. When he moved from the Sicilian island he changed ...