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

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

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

Feast days

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The theatre of taste

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

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

The Staircase of Angels

A talking palace

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

The wall comes to life

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

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Feasting in Palazzolo

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

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

The disastrous earthquake

The church of Carmine

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Norman apses

One city, three sites

Some prestigious works

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A long reconstruction

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Wonderful quick decorations

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

One city, two sites

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The interior and its masterpieces

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A city in colour

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Two illustrious patron saints

The Baroque town by the sea

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A half-Baroque church

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A hall for the feasts

Prominent façade

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A miniature city

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A square as the heart of the city

Many owners, one palace

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

A symbol for the town

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

New roads for Catania

An eagle-shaped city

A new site for a new church

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Burgos crucifix

A majestic and luminous church

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

From International Gothic to present day

Discovering the mother church

A prominent church

A new site for a new city

Some masterpieces

A colourful floor

A triumph of colour

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The chocolate of Modica

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The two churches

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

The city of museums

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The internal colours

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A feast only for Scicli

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A museum to save a tradition