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 prominent church

Many owners, one palace

Norman apses

A miniature city

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A museum to save a tradition

From International Gothic to present day

One city, three sites

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A square as the heart of the city

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Maiolica of the staircase

The wall comes to life

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A city in colour

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The disastrous earthquake

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Between white and black

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The internal colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Some prestigious works

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A triumph of colour

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The theatre of taste

The colours of the cathedral

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Feasting in Palazzolo

A feast only for Scicli

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

Discovering the mother church

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Some masterpieces

Prominent façade

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

The Baroque town by the sea

One city, two sites

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

An eagle-shaped city

Feast days

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

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

A long reconstruction

A hall for the feasts

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The chocolate of Modica

The Staircase of Angels

A small room with a golden entrance

A new site for a new city

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The church of Carmine

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A talking palace

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

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

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A half-Baroque church

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

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

The two churches

The interior and its masterpieces

A colourful floor

A symbol for the town

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Burgos crucifix

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Searching for colour

The city of museums

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

A new site for a new church

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

New roads for Catania