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.

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

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

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A hall for the feasts

A new site for a new church

A feast only for Scicli

Searching for colour

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

The interior and its masterpieces

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A prominent church

Prominent façade

A new site for a new city

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A talking palace

A colourful floor

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A small room with a golden entrance

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

New roads for Catania

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Two illustrious patron saints

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

The Baroque town by the sea

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A long reconstruction

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Norman apses

The chocolate of Modica

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Maiolica of the staircase

Many owners, one palace

Some prestigious works

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A triumph of colour

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

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

A city in colour

The Staircase of Angels

Discovering the mother church

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The city of museums

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A half-Baroque church

The colours of the cathedral

The theatre of taste

An eagle-shaped city

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Burgos crucifix

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

Some masterpieces

Connections with other UNESCO sites

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The wall comes to life

One city, three sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A miniature city

The two churches

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A majestic and luminous church

Feasting in Palazzolo

The internal colours

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

A symbol for the town

One city, two sites

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Feast days

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A square as the heart of the city

The disastrous earthquake

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The church of Carmine

Between white and black

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Barresi-Branciforte lords