Noto

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The harmonious architecture and homogeneity of Noto stone create such a scenic balance that the city looks as though it were built in one night.
Noto was actually built over half a century by various architects and craftspeople. Noto omogeneita e l'armonia archtettureThe work of the architect Angelo Italia was fundamental: he organised the city space and created splendid scenographic effects, transforming squares and streets into stages.
No less important was Rosario Gagliardi .
His constant presence in Noto allowed him to closely monitor all of his construction sites and to teach and prepare new, young architects. Upon his death, his works were completed by one of his students, Vincenzo Sinatra , who never forgot the expert’s teachings.
None of this could have been achieved without good basic organisation.
Thanks to Baron Giuseppe Asmundo, the land for constructing the new buildings was allocated fairly and the height of the buildings was also clearly defined. In this way, the buildings were all the same, creating a harmonious and homogeneous landscape.
The choice of white limestone , was also important.This local stone, when lit up by the sun, takes on a golden yellow colour reminiscent of honey.Its appearance has remained unchanged over the centuries; minimal interventions were made and you can still admire it in all its beauty and grace today.The effect is a landscape wrapped in an ethereal light.

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A symbol for the town

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

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Prominent façade

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

New roads for Catania

Norman apses

A small room with a golden entrance

The internal colours

A talking palace

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The wall comes to life

Many owners, one palace

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Between white and black

A square as the heart of the city

A long reconstruction

The Maiolica of the staircase

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A miniature city

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The church of Carmine

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A feast only for Scicli

Feasting in Palazzolo

Two illustrious patron saints

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A half-Baroque church

The city of museums

The theatre of taste

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Discovering the mother church

One city, two sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

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

From International Gothic to present day

A triumph of colour

The colours of the cathedral

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A new site for a new church

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A city in colour

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Feast days

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

St. Sebastian, so much work!

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A new site for a new city

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

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

Some prestigious works

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

An eagle-shaped city

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

A prominent church

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

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

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The chocolate of Modica

Wonderful quick decorations

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The two churches

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Some masterpieces

A colourful floor

A majestic and luminous church

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Burgos crucifix

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

One city, three sites

The Staircase of Angels

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

The Baroque town by the sea

A museum to save a tradition

Searching for colour

The Barresi-Branciforte lords