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 feast only for Scicli

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A prominent church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Burgos crucifix

An eagle-shaped city

The chocolate of Modica

Feast days

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The two churches

The Staircase of Angels

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Prominent façade

A city in colour

Discovering the mother church

The interior and its masterpieces

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A new site for a new city

A square as the heart of the city

A talking palace

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A symbol for the town

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The wall comes to life

A miniature city

One city, two sites

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Limestone, the colour of harmony

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A majestic and luminous church

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A hall for the feasts

A half-Baroque church

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Norman apses

The church of Carmine

Wonderful quick decorations

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Many owners, one palace

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

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

A small room with a golden entrance

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

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

The colours of the cathedral

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A museum to save a tradition

The Maiolica of the staircase

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Between white and black

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A colourful floor

The city of museums

From International Gothic to present day

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

One city, three sites

The theatre of taste

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The internal colours

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Some masterpieces

A long reconstruction

The disastrous earthquake

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

Searching for colour

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

Two illustrious patron saints

Some prestigious works

A triumph of colour

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

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