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.

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

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

A museum to save a tradition

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A feast only for Scicli

The wall comes to life

The interior and its masterpieces

A long reconstruction

Some prestigious works

One city, three sites

A new site for a new church

A half-Baroque church

An eagle-shaped city

Feast days

Feasting in Palazzolo

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Some masterpieces

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Two illustrious patron saints

A new site for a new city

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Norman apses

A symbol for the town

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

From International Gothic to present day

A majestic and luminous church

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The colours of the cathedral

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

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

The theatre of taste

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

A hall for the feasts

The chocolate of Modica

Wonderful quick decorations

The Baroque town by the sea

A small room with a golden entrance

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The disastrous earthquake

The church of Carmine

The two churches

A miniature city

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Searching for colour

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Prominent façade

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The Burgos crucifix

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

A colourful floor

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Staircase of Angels

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

New roads for Catania

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A triumph of colour

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The internal colours

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

A prominent church

Between white and black

Discovering the mother church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

One city, two sites

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

The city of museums

A talking palace