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 cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

New roads for Catania

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Feasting in Palazzolo

A triumph of colour

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A majestic and luminous church

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

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The interior and its masterpieces

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

Feast days

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new site for a new church

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

A square as the heart of the city

One city, three sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Baroque town by the sea

Searching for colour

The colours of the cathedral

A prominent church

Between white and black

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A long reconstruction

The wall comes to life

The theatre of taste

An eagle-shaped city

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Two illustrious patron saints

A city in colour

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A hall for the feasts

Many owners, one palace

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Burgos crucifix

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A talking palace

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

The chocolate of Modica

From International Gothic to present day

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

One city, two sites

A new site for a new city

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A feast only for Scicli

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

A miniature city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Norman apses

The two churches

The Staircase of Angels

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

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

Discovering the mother church

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Some masterpieces

The internal colours

A museum to save a tradition

Wonderful quick decorations

A colourful floor

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

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The city of museums

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Some prestigious works

A symbol for the town

Prominent façade

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A half-Baroque church

The church of Carmine