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

A hall for the feasts

A symbol for the town

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

From International Gothic to present day

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Feasting in Palazzolo

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A museum to save a tradition

Discovering the mother church

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A half-Baroque church

Feast days

The Staircase of Angels

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

One city, two sites

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Some prestigious works

The chocolate of Modica

Many owners, one palace

The theatre of taste

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

A majestic and luminous church

Two illustrious patron saints

The Baroque town by the sea

The internal colours

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A miniature city

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A new site for a new church

A colourful floor

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The colours of the cathedral

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A feast only for Scicli

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A prominent church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A long reconstruction

The two churches

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The interior and its masterpieces

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The wall comes to life

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new site for a new city

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Wonderful quick decorations

A square as the heart of the city

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The city of museums

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A triumph of colour

Prominent façade

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A talking palace

Some masterpieces

A city in colour

One city, three sites

The Burgos crucifix

The disastrous earthquake

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Norman apses

A small room with a golden entrance

The Maiolica of the staircase

Between white and black

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

Searching for colour