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.

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Between white and black

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

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

A majestic and luminous church

Searching for colour

The theatre of taste

One city, three sites

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A long reconstruction

Feast days

The two churches

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Burgos crucifix

Discovering the mother church

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

A museum to save a tradition

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

A triumph of colour

Wonderful quick decorations

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A new site for a new city

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

One city, two sites

The interior and its masterpieces

A talking palace

A prominent church

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A colourful floor

New roads for Catania

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The internal colours

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The church of Carmine

The city of museums

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

Some prestigious works

A symbol for the town

The Maiolica of the staircase

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The wall comes to life

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Many owners, one palace

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Two illustrious patron saints

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

From International Gothic to present day

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

A hall for the feasts

The chocolate of Modica

The colours of the cathedral

A miniature city

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A half-Baroque church

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Prominent façade

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Staircase of Angels

Norman apses

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A small room with a golden entrance

Some masterpieces

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A square as the heart of the city

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A feast only for Scicli

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

A new site for a new church

The Baroque town by the sea