Introduction to Val di Noto

Fantasies of light and colour

Introduction to the route

The proposed educational route retraces the main events of the history of the Val di Noto.
Through the suggested itineraries it intends to lead younger children along their discovery of the eight towns: Catania, Militello in Val di Catania, Caltagirone, Ragusa, Modica, Scicli, Palazzolo Acreide and Noto.
This is a unique chance and opportunity to examine a territory rich in history.
Following the tragic earthquake of 1693, the towns of the Val di Noto were rebuilt with such homogeneity and richness from an artistic and architectural point of view that they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The post-earthquake reconstruction is examined through many aspects that revolve around the brightness of paint colours, effects and plays on light and shadow that make the heritage a particularly fascinating and completely unusual sight. As well as featuring prominently in the lively character of the communities that inhabit these places, colour accompanies our gaze in a conscious interpretation of architectural shapes and unique landscapes, becoming an inspiration for artisanal production, too.
The children, then, can expect to experience many, powerful emotions.

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Norman apses

A feast only for Scicli

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Feast days

A triumph of colour

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Searching for colour

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The city of museums

A symbol for the town

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Baroque town by the sea

Two illustrious patron saints

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

Some masterpieces

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A miniature city

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A long reconstruction

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Burgos crucifix

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The internal colours

The wall comes to life

The two churches

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

One city, two sites

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

A small room with a golden entrance

A museum to save a tradition

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

Discovering the mother church

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Some prestigious works

A new site for a new church

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The interior and its masterpieces

An eagle-shaped city

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A square as the heart of the city

Wonderful quick decorations

A talking palace

A hall for the feasts

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A colourful floor

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

Many owners, one palace

From International Gothic to present day

One city, three sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The theatre of taste

A new site for a new city

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

Prominent façade

The colours of the cathedral

The chocolate of Modica

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A city in colour

A half-Baroque church

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The Staircase of Angels

The disastrous earthquake

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

A prominent church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara