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.

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

Searching for colour

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The colours of the cathedral

Prominent façade

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

The city of museums

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Norman apses

A half-Baroque church

The church of Carmine

A hall for the feasts

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A square as the heart of the city

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Two illustrious patron saints

A colourful floor

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Baroque town by the sea

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

The wall comes to life

A museum to save a tradition

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

One city, three sites

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Burgos crucifix

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A miniature city

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The chocolate of Modica

The Staircase of Angels

A majestic and luminous church

A long reconstruction

The interior and its masterpieces

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Discovering the mother church

A prominent church

A new site for a new church

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

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

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Maiolica of the staircase

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The two churches

A small room with a golden entrance

Some masterpieces

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A city in colour

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Wonderful quick decorations

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

One city, two sites

Feasting in Palazzolo

A symbol for the town

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The façade used as a puppet theatre

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Some prestigious works

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

The internal colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The theatre of taste

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A feast only for Scicli

A triumph of colour

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

From International Gothic to present day

A talking palace

The disastrous earthquake

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

New roads for Catania

Many owners, one palace

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Between white and black

A new site for a new city

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Feast days

A new palace for the La Rocca lords