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.

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A triumph of colour

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Discovering the mother church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A symbol for the town

New roads for Catania

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The theatre of taste

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

A square as the heart of the city

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Wonderful quick decorations

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

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

Searching for colour

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Norman apses

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

One city, three sites

A hall for the feasts

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

Two illustrious patron saints

A talking palace

A half-Baroque church

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

A museum to save a tradition

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A new site for a new city

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

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The internal colours

A long reconstruction

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

Between white and black

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A majestic and luminous church

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Many owners, one palace

A prominent church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

One city, two sites

Feast days

A city in colour

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The disastrous earthquake

From International Gothic to present day

A colourful floor

The city of museums

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A small room with a golden entrance

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The wall comes to life

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A feast only for Scicli

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Prominent façade

The Staircase of Angels

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A new site for a new church

The Burgos crucifix

An eagle-shaped city

The chocolate of Modica

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

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

Some prestigious works

Some masterpieces

The interior and its masterpieces

The two churches

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A miniature city

Feasting in Palazzolo

The Baroque town by the sea