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 square as the heart of the city

New roads for Catania

A miniature city

The city of museums

Feasting in Palazzolo

Norman apses

A feast only for Scicli

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

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

Feast days

Many owners, one palace

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Between white and black

A Nobel Prize in Modica

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Burgos crucifix

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

The chocolate of Modica

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The internal colours

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A new site for a new city

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

One city, three sites

The interior and its masterpieces

The colours of the cathedral

The Baroque town by the sea

Some masterpieces

A symbol for the town

Prominent façade

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

One city, two sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A talking palace

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The church of Carmine

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Limestone, the colour of harmony

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Searching for colour

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Some prestigious works

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Wonderful quick decorations

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The theatre of taste

From International Gothic to present day

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

A prominent church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A small room with a golden entrance

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

An eagle-shaped city

The disastrous earthquake

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A colourful floor

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

The two churches

A city in colour

A triumph of colour

A long reconstruction

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A majestic and luminous church

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

A half-Baroque church

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A museum to save a tradition

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

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

Discovering the mother church

Two illustrious patron saints

A hall for the feasts

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The Staircase of Angels

The wall comes to life

St. Sebastian, so much work!