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.

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Many owners, one palace

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

A square as the heart of the city

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

One city, three sites

From International Gothic to present day

Some prestigious works

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The theatre of taste

A long reconstruction

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A talking palace

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

The disastrous earthquake

The Baroque town by the sea

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A new site for a new city

A symbol for the town

The two churches

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A triumph of colour

A hall for the feasts

Some masterpieces

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The city of museums

Feasting in Palazzolo

The church of Carmine

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A museum to save a tradition

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A prominent church

The Staircase of Angels

The façade used as a puppet theatre

One city, two sites

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Discovering the mother church

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A colourful floor

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A half-Baroque church

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

A miniature city

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The wall comes to life

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

Searching for colour

A city in colour

The Maiolica of the staircase

Feast days

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

The interior and its masterpieces

Wonderful quick decorations

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Between white and black

The colours of the cathedral

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The Burgos crucifix

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A feast only for Scicli

A majestic and luminous church

New roads for Catania

An eagle-shaped city

Prominent façade

Norman apses

The internal colours

A new site for a new church