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

A long reconstruction

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A new site for a new church

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Two illustrious patron saints

A half-Baroque church

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The church of Carmine

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The interior and its masterpieces

The city of museums

The Maiolica of the staircase

New roads for Catania

A feast only for Scicli

The colours of the cathedral

The Burgos crucifix

Discovering the mother church

An eagle-shaped city

Wonderful quick decorations

Norman apses

One city, three sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The wall comes to life

Many owners, one palace

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The disastrous earthquake

Some masterpieces

A prominent church

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

A miniature city

A colourful floor

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A new site for a new city

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

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

A small room with a golden entrance

The two churches

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Baroque town by the sea

A talking palace

A majestic and luminous church

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A square as the heart of the city

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

Prominent façade

Some prestigious works

A city in colour

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Feast days

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The chocolate of Modica

A museum to save a tradition

The Staircase of Angels

One city, two sites

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

The internal colours

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

A triumph of colour

Searching for colour

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Between white and black

A symbol for the town

From International Gothic to present day

The theatre of taste

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

St. Sebastian, so much work!