Ragusa

One city, two sites

The town of Ragusa Ibla is built across three different hilly areas separated by a deep valley.
The town is the union of Ibla and Ragusa: Ibla was founded by the Sicels, before the birth of Christ. Ragusa, on the other hand, has much less ancient origins and is linked to the tragic earthquake.foto città nel complesso Following the earthquake, when deciding where to rebuild the town, no agreement could be reached.
The population was divided into two factions: the sangiorgiari suggested the old site; the sangiovannari sought to rebuild it elsewhere.
The former were aristocrats of very old lineage who lived in the parish of San Giorgio (St. George); the Sangiovannari, on the other hand, who lived outside the walls in the district of San Giovanni (St. John), were made up of the poor and the nouveau riche. Neither side wanted to give in, so two independent towns were built. foto IblaIbla was rebuilt on a lower hill than Ragusa and the old road layout was maintained.
Ragusa was planned perfectly with a system of roads that crossed at right angles.
Though rebuilt independently and autonomously from one another, Ragusa and Ibla share the style of Baroque art.
Over time the clear division was lost and the inhabitants began to live in the intermediate space, but it was not until 1926 that Ibla and Ragusa were reunited.foto ragusa

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

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

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The Burgos crucifix

An eagle-shaped city

The Maiolica of the staircase

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A talking palace

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Two illustrious patron saints

The Staircase of Angels

Many owners, one palace

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

One city, two sites

The interior and its masterpieces

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A new site for a new church

A colourful floor

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A city in colour

A feast only for Scicli

New roads for Catania

The church of Carmine

From International Gothic to present day

Between white and black

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

One city, three sites

A prominent church

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

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Searching for colour

Some prestigious works

A long reconstruction

A museum to save a tradition

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A symbol for the town

Discovering the mother church

Norman apses

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

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Baroque town by the sea

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A hall for the feasts

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Feasting in Palazzolo

A square as the heart of the city

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The wall comes to life

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A miniature city

A triumph of colour

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A half-Baroque church

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Feast days

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A new site for a new city

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

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

The colours of the cathedral

The city of museums

Prominent façade

The two churches

Some masterpieces

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The disastrous earthquake

The chocolate of Modica

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The internal colours

Wonderful quick decorations

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

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

The theatre of taste