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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A colourful floor

A majestic and luminous church

A long reconstruction

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Norman apses

A new site for a new city

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A symbol for the town

Between white and black

Discovering the mother church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

From International Gothic to present day

Searching for colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The disastrous earthquake

The chocolate of Modica

A feast only for Scicli

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A talking palace

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A triumph of colour

A miniature city

An eagle-shaped city

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

One city, two sites

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

Feasting in Palazzolo

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

Wonderful quick decorations

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The two churches

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

A hall for the feasts

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Some prestigious works

One city, three sites

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A small room with a golden entrance

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

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The colours of the cathedral

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

A museum to save a tradition

The Burgos crucifix

The interior and its masterpieces

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Many owners, one palace

Two illustrious patron saints

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

The church of Carmine

Some masterpieces

A city in colour

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

A half-Baroque church

The Baroque town by the sea

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The internal colours

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

Prominent façade

A prominent church

New roads for Catania

The city of museums

The wall comes to life

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

A new site for a new church

The Staircase of Angels

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Feast days

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The theatre of taste