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.

Some prestigious works

New roads for Catania

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

The chocolate of Modica

A symbol for the town

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A hall for the feasts

The Staircase of Angels

A museum to save a tradition

Wonderful quick decorations

The internal colours

The theatre of taste

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A new site for a new city

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A city in colour

A long reconstruction

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The city of museums

A half-Baroque church

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Feast days

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Norman apses

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

The wall comes to life

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

One city, two sites

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

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Between white and black

The Baroque town by the sea

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The church of Carmine

Some masterpieces

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A square as the heart of the city

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

From International Gothic to present day

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A colourful floor

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A majestic and luminous church

Many owners, one palace

An eagle-shaped city

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A feast only for Scicli

A prominent church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Prominent façade

The interior and its masterpieces

The Burgos crucifix

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A new site for a new church

The colours of the cathedral

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A talking palace

Connections with other UNESCO sites

One city, three sites

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

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A miniature city

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

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

Discovering the mother church

Searching for colour

A triumph of colour

Two illustrious patron saints

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The two churches

The disastrous earthquake

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Maiolica of the staircase

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto