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.

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

A triumph of colour

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The interior and its masterpieces

A talking palace

Wonderful quick decorations

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

A new site for a new church

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

New roads for Catania

A prominent church

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Discovering the mother church

One city, two sites

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A colourful floor

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

One city, three sites

The city of museums

The wall comes to life

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A feast only for Scicli

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Two illustrious patron saints

A hall for the feasts

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Norman apses

Many owners, one palace

The two churches

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A city in colour

The colours of the cathedral

The Staircase of Angels

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A small room with a golden entrance

Feasting in Palazzolo

Feast days

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

A new site for a new city

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

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

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Searching for colour

The internal colours

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A museum to save a tradition

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Prominent façade

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A half-Baroque church

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

From International Gothic to present day

A square as the heart of the city

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

An eagle-shaped city

The chocolate of Modica

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Between white and black

A symbol for the town

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The theatre of taste

A majestic and luminous church

The church of Carmine

A long reconstruction

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

Some prestigious works

The Burgos crucifix

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A miniature city

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Some masterpieces

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca