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.

One city, three sites

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The city of museums

The chocolate of Modica

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A prominent church

A new site for a new church

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A square as the heart of the city

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

A talking palace

Feasting in Palazzolo

A miniature city

From International Gothic to present day

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A half-Baroque church

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

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

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

Norman apses

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A hall for the feasts

Two illustrious patron saints

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

A colourful floor

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

A feast only for Scicli

New roads for Catania

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A small room with a golden entrance

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

The interior and its masterpieces

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

An eagle-shaped city

A symbol for the town

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Discovering the mother church

A long reconstruction

Some masterpieces

A museum to save a tradition

The Staircase of Angels

A new site for a new city

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Some prestigious works

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The internal colours

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The theatre of taste

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Burgos crucifix

The church of Carmine

The Maiolica of the staircase

Between white and black

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Prominent façade

The Baroque town by the sea

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The wall comes to life

The two churches

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Searching for colour

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Wonderful quick decorations

A majestic and luminous church

One city, two sites

Feast days

The colours of the cathedral

The façade used as a puppet theatre