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 San Giovanni Battista

The disastrous earthquake

Feasting in Palazzolo

The wall comes to life

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A city in colour

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Feast days

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The two churches

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A long reconstruction

Some masterpieces

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

A hall for the feasts

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Staircase of Angels

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A new site for a new city

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

From International Gothic to present day

The theatre of taste

Norman apses

Two illustrious patron saints

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

One city, three sites

A museum to save a tradition

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A triumph of colour

Between white and black

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

The chocolate of Modica

A square as the heart of the city

Many owners, one palace

The Burgos crucifix

A new site for a new church

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The church of Carmine

A symbol for the town

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

Wonderful quick decorations

The city of museums

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A talking palace

One city, two sites

A colourful floor

A small room with a golden entrance

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A half-Baroque church

An eagle-shaped city

The Maiolica of the staircase

A prominent church

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Prominent façade

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A miniature city

The internal colours

The Baroque town by the sea

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

A feast only for Scicli

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

A majestic and luminous church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

Some prestigious works

Searching for colour

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

Discovering the mother church

The colours of the cathedral

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Barresi-Branciforte lords