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 disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A hall for the feasts

A symbol for the town

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

A long reconstruction

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The interior and its masterpieces

A museum to save a tradition

Norman apses

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

Some masterpieces

New roads for Catania

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The theatre of taste

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A miniature city

The Burgos crucifix

Many owners, one palace

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

One city, three sites

Two illustrious patron saints

Some prestigious works

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Between white and black

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A new site for a new church

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

An eagle-shaped city

A square as the heart of the city

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Searching for colour

The Baroque town by the sea

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 façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Discovering the mother church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The church of Carmine

Prominent façade

The Staircase of Angels

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A half-Baroque church

Feast days

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

The wall comes to life

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The internal colours

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A triumph of colour

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

A majestic and luminous church

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Wonderful quick decorations

A feast only for Scicli

The two churches

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Maiolica of the staircase

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A new site for a new city

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A colourful floor

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A prominent church

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A small room with a golden entrance

One city, two sites

A talking palace

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The chocolate of Modica

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

From International Gothic to present day

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

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

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The city of museums

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom