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 Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A hall for the feasts

Two illustrious patron saints

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A long reconstruction

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The internal colours

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

New roads for Catania

A talking palace

From International Gothic to present day

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

The disastrous earthquake

Searching for colour

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A new site for a new church

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

A miniature city

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Discovering the mother church

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A majestic and luminous church

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The theatre of taste

The city of museums

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The wall comes to life

A triumph of colour

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

The Burgos crucifix

Some masterpieces

A colourful floor

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

The church of Carmine

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Staircase of Angels

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A square as the heart of the city

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

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Norman apses

An eagle-shaped city

A feast only for Scicli

Many owners, one palace

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A prominent church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The chocolate of Modica

A city in colour

Feast days

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

One city, two sites

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A symbol for the town

Prominent façade

A museum to save a tradition

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A new site for a new city

Some prestigious works

The interior and its masterpieces

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

One city, three sites

A small room with a golden entrance

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A half-Baroque church

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Feasting in Palazzolo

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The two churches

The colours of the cathedral

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

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