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 two churches

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

The wall comes to life

From International Gothic to present day

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The interior and its masterpieces

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Norman apses

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

One city, two sites

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Discovering the mother church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The church of Carmine

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A colourful floor

Wonderful quick decorations

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

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

A small room with a golden entrance

Searching for colour

The chocolate of Modica

Some masterpieces

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The Staircase of Angels

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A miniature city

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new site for a new city

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Some prestigious works

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

New roads for Catania

An eagle-shaped city

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Baroque town by the sea

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

Prominent façade

A hall for the feasts

The disastrous earthquake

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Feast days

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The city of museums

A city in colour

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The internal colours

The colours of the cathedral

A triumph of colour

A new site for a new church

A prominent church

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A square as the heart of the city

A museum to save a tradition

A feast only for Scicli

Many owners, one palace

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Maiolica of the staircase

A half-Baroque church

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

One city, three sites

A symbol for the town

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The theatre of taste

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

A majestic and luminous church

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Feasting in Palazzolo

Two illustrious patron saints

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A long reconstruction

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

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

Between white and black

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A talking palace

The Burgos crucifix