Scicli

A feast only for Scicli

Madonna a Cavallo, Chiesa MadreOn the last Saturday of May the Madonna a Cavallo (Madonna on Horseback) is celebrated in Scicli. This very important feast celebrates the liberation of Christians from Arab rule.
In 1091 Roger I of Sicily and his army freed Scicli from the Saracens, but they didn’t do it all by themselves… The Madonna on horseback came to their aid. Also known as the Madonna delle Milizie (Madonna of the Militia), she miraculously appeared and took part in the final battle. This incredible event could not be forgotten, so it is still celebrated every year.
In her honour, the town is decorated with lights and all the citizens participate in long processions; it is the only feast in the world where a warrior virgin is celebrated.
A play is also put on that tells the story of the battle and the miraculous appearance. To mark this day for remembering the Virgin’s miraculous intervention, typical desserts are prepared called Teste di Turco (“Testi Turcu” in dialect), meaning Turkish Heads. These desserts are an ideological trophy. In fact, their shape is reminiscent of the turbans that covered the heads of the defeated invaders. Despite their inspiration, they are delicious pastry puffs filled with ricotta cheese or custard.

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Baroque town by the sea

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The Staircase of Angels

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Discovering the mother church

Many owners, one palace

Between white and black

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

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A long reconstruction

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A symbol for the town

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A Nobel Prize in Modica

An eagle-shaped city

A talking palace

Norman apses

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Burgos crucifix

A triumph of colour

The city of museums

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A new site for a new city

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A colourful floor

The Maiolica of the staircase

The interior and its masterpieces

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The two churches

The disastrous earthquake

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

A miniature city

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A museum to save a tradition

New roads for Catania

Wonderful quick decorations

A half-Baroque church

Some masterpieces

The theatre of taste

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The wall comes to life

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A hall for the feasts

One city, three sites

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A prominent church

Some prestigious works

The internal colours

The church of Carmine

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A new site for a new church

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Prominent façade

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The colours of the cathedral

Feast days

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The chocolate of Modica

A majestic and luminous church

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

Searching for colour

A feast only for Scicli

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

One city, two sites