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 Burgos crucifix

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 Giuliano ai Crociferi

A long reconstruction

A majestic and luminous church

The church of Carmine

A city in colour

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

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

Norman apses

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Feasting in Palazzolo

A prominent church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A triumph of colour

An eagle-shaped city

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The disastrous earthquake

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

The Baroque town by the sea

The city of museums

A new site for a new church

A miniature city

Prominent façade

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Feast days

One city, three sites

The colours of the cathedral

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

Wonderful quick decorations

The theatre of taste

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The wall comes to life

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A square as the heart of the city

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A hall for the feasts

A museum to save a tradition

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

Two illustrious patron saints

A half-Baroque church

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The interior and its masterpieces

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Some prestigious works

A symbol for the town

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A new site for a new city

The chocolate of Modica

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

One city, two sites

Between white and black

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

A colourful floor

New roads for Catania

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

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A feast only for Scicli

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Discovering the mother church

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The two churches

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The internal colours

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A talking palace

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The Staircase of Angels

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Maiolica of the staircase

Some masterpieces

From International Gothic to present day

Searching for colour

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)