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.

A talking palace

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

A long reconstruction

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The internal colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Feasting in Palazzolo

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

From International Gothic to present day

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A symbol for the town

An eagle-shaped city

The disastrous earthquake

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

A square as the heart of the city

The city of museums

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A hall for the feasts

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The interior and its masterpieces

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The theatre of taste

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The Burgos crucifix

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A triumph of colour

Searching for colour

A city in colour

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A new site for a new city

Norman apses

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The two churches

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A museum to save a tradition

A feast only for Scicli

The colours of the cathedral

The Maiolica of the staircase

Between white and black

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

One city, two sites

A majestic and luminous church

New roads for Catania

Wonderful quick decorations

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

Some masterpieces

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

A new site for a new church

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Many owners, one palace

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A prominent church

Discovering the mother church

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

One city, three sites

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Staircase of Angels

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A small room with a golden entrance

Prominent façade

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A colourful floor

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Feast days

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Some prestigious works

The wall comes to life

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

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The church of Carmine

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

A half-Baroque church

A miniature city