Stucco is a mixture of lime, gypsum, or cement and water to which various types of material can be added as needed, such as fibreglass, which increases its resistance. It can be used to decorate and embellish walls or to create three-dimensional figures such as statues or small sculptures. In thi...

Louvre windows or blinds are an architectural element reminiscent of the balustrades on balconies. They are created using thick crossed slats (grating) that often form a pattern, or are perforated sheets of wood or metal. They were used as a dividing element to hide those behind them....

Rivers of lava flow out when Etna erupts, before solidifying and turning into a dark grey stone. The very hard and resistant "pietra nigra" (black stone) is used as a building material for walls and agricultural terraces in the countryside. It is worked in various ways according to its use: it is ...

The name Rosario Gagliardi appears for the first time in a document of the church of Santa Chiara (St. Claire) on 17 April 1732: a note was taken of the sale of building material "seen by Rosario Gagliardi" (accepted and approved by R.G.). Another source dated 20 February 1754 confirmed Gagliardi'...

The writer Giovanni Verga (1840-1922) decided to visit his cousin who lived in the monastery. During their meeting, he was particularly struck by the estrangement between them; the nuns, who sat behind window grilles, had their faces hidden and were not easily distinguishable. This physical and ...

The Benedictine nuns called upon Rosario Gagliardi for the convent works. He replaced another architect and began work. In 1918 the nuns were forced to abandon the monastery. First it became a barracks, then a school and even a cinema. All these transformations make it difficult for scholars to u...

Quattro Canti is the name given to unique squares created by the perpendicular intersection of two streets. he buildings that overlook them have cut and bevelled corners. The first to be built were those in Palermo: in 1567, the road from the Palazzo Reale to the sea, Via Toledo (now Corso Vittori...

A sketch is a schematic drawing with few details. It is a general idea of the work that the artist is about to complete....

The unmissable and important feasts in Noto during the summer season include the one dedicated to San Corrado (St. Conrad). Two processions are dedicated to the city's protector, one in February and another on the last Sunday in August. In the summer, the city celebrates the beatification that t...

White limestone was chosen to rebuild the entire city of Noto. The reason for this is obvious. The quarries around the area of Noto are rich in this material, so transporting it there was easy. When lit by the sunlight, the white stone turns a golden honey colour, giving Noto a fairytale appearan...