Modica

From International Gothic to present day

interno chiesa dall’ingresso verso l’altareThe interior of the church of Carmine features a classic Sicilian maiolica floor paired with a snow white wall with some architectural elements in relief such as capitals , arches, columns and the trabeation .
Their combination produces plays of light and shadow, achieved thanks to the rays of sunlight filtering through the windows. The altars, paintings such as the panel of St. Albert and the sculptural complex of the Annunciation add colour to and illuminate the church of Carmine. The white wooden structure behind the main altar is wonderful, embellished with golden stuccoes in the centre of which is the Madonna and Child.
foto dettaglio trabeazione foto dettaglio trabeazione
An astonishing discovery was made a few years ago: to the right of the apse , hidden in the wall, was the entrance to a side chapel of medieval, late-Gothic times. Traces remain of its ancient decoration and the funerary room beneath the floor.
struttura dietro l’altare

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

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The Maiolica of the staircase

The Baroque town by the sea

Prominent façade

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

From International Gothic to present day

A museum to save a tradition

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

A small room with a golden entrance

The two churches

Discovering the mother church

The theatre of taste

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A colourful floor

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A square as the heart of the city

Feasting in Palazzolo

The city of museums

A symbol for the town

An eagle-shaped city

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Two illustrious patron saints

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

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

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

Feast days

A feast only for Scicli

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A city in colour

The chocolate of Modica

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A half-Baroque church

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Some masterpieces

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Staircase of Angels

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The disastrous earthquake

A majestic and luminous church

A hall for the feasts

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

New roads for Catania

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The wall comes to life

A talking palace

A new site for a new city

Some prestigious works

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Norman apses

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The internal colours

The interior and its masterpieces

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A new site for a new church

A prominent church

One city, three sites

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

The colours of the cathedral

The church of Carmine

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

One city, two sites

Searching for colour

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Many owners, one palace

A long reconstruction

Wonderful quick decorations

The Burgos crucifix

A triumph of colour

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Between white and black

A miniature city

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

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