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

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

A museum to save a tradition

A triumph of colour

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

One city, three sites

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A prominent church

A colourful floor

A square as the heart of the city

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The chocolate of Modica

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A hall for the feasts

Many owners, one palace

The disastrous earthquake

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

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

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The theatre of taste

Two illustrious patron saints

The Burgos crucifix

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A small room with a golden entrance

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Wonderful quick decorations

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A symbol for the town

Some prestigious works

The Baroque town by the sea

Discovering the mother church

Some masterpieces

One city, two sites

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A talking palace

A feast only for Scicli

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

The interior and its masterpieces

An eagle-shaped city

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The internal colours

The two churches

The city of museums

The wall comes to life

Feast days

A half-Baroque church

Between white and black

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Searching for colour

A miniature city

From International Gothic to present day

The church of Carmine

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Prominent façade

Feasting in Palazzolo

A majestic and luminous church

A new site for a new church

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

Norman apses

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A long reconstruction

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A city in colour

New roads for Catania

The Staircase of Angels

The colours of the cathedral