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 colourful floor

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The wall comes to life

A half-Baroque church

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

The disastrous earthquake

Searching for colour

The façade used as a puppet theatre

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Staircase of Angels

The Baroque town by the sea

A city in colour

A symbol for the town

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A talking palace

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

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The city of museums

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Norman apses

A hall for the feasts

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A feast only for Scicli

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Two illustrious patron saints

The Maiolica of the staircase

Many owners, one palace

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The two churches

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Feasting in Palazzolo

Some masterpieces

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

An eagle-shaped city

The Burgos crucifix

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Some prestigious works

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

The theatre of taste

The internal colours

The colours of the cathedral

A museum to save a tradition

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

One city, three sites

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A new site for a new church

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

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

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Feast days

A small room with a golden entrance

Discovering the mother church

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Prominent façade

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A new site for a new city

Wonderful quick decorations

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A square as the heart of the city

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

From International Gothic to present day

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A miniature city

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

A prominent church

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

One city, two sites

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A long reconstruction

A majestic and luminous church

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

The church of Carmine