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

Feasting in Palazzolo

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The city of museums

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

From International Gothic to present day

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

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

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

A square as the heart of the city

A half-Baroque church

The wall comes to life

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The internal colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A city in colour

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Feast days

One city, three sites

A small room with a golden entrance

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Norman apses

The Baroque town by the sea

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

Some masterpieces

A majestic and luminous church

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Wonderful quick decorations

A prominent church

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Two illustrious patron saints

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

The disastrous earthquake

Discovering the mother church

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A museum to save a tradition

New roads for Catania

Prominent façade

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A miniature city

The Maiolica of the staircase

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A long reconstruction

Some prestigious works

Many owners, one palace

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The chocolate of Modica

Between white and black

A colourful floor

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A feast only for Scicli

The colours of the cathedral

An eagle-shaped city

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The two churches

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

A symbol for the town

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

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

The interior and its masterpieces

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Burgos crucifix

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The church of Carmine

Searching for colour

One city, two sites

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A triumph of colour

A new site for a new church

A talking palace

The Staircase of Angels

The theatre of taste