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 story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

Feasting in Palazzolo

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

Discovering the mother church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

One city, two sites

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The church of Carmine

The chocolate of Modica

The colours of the cathedral

A long reconstruction

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A prominent church

The interior and its masterpieces

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

From International Gothic to present day

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A miniature city

One city, three sites

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

Searching for colour

The two churches

The theatre of taste

A hall for the feasts

A feast only for Scicli

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Many owners, one palace

A square as the heart of the city

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A new site for a new city

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A new site for a new church

The wall comes to life

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A symbol for the town

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

A half-Baroque church

A small room with a golden entrance

Between white and black

A city in colour

The internal colours

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The Burgos crucifix

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A triumph of colour

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The disastrous earthquake

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Baroque town by the sea

A museum to save a tradition

Some prestigious works

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

A talking palace

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Wonderful quick decorations

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Two illustrious patron saints

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

The Staircase of Angels

Feast days

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

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

An eagle-shaped city

The city of museums

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A majestic and luminous church

Some masterpieces

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Prominent façade

A colourful floor

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Norman apses

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

New roads for Catania