Catania

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The work of the Benedictines not only followed religious and charitable commitments, but scientific undertakings, too. The monastery’s first collection of books was probably created at its foundation and used exclusively by the monks. The monks also followed strict Benedictine rule through the study of literature and science.
They established relations with the city’s cultural institutions and acquired important collections over the centuries.
There were around 24,000 volumes of rare, ancient and modern manuscripts and parchments; the monks were great connoisseurs and disseminators of ancient knowledge. After the eruption of 1669 and the earthquake of 1693 the monastery suffered great losses but the monks managed to save part of the collection, which they kept until the library was rebuilt.
The construction of the library’s new main hall was entrusted to Vaccarini, who designed it with typical elements from late Baroque art.
In fact, the giant central plan hall, the “Sala Vaccarini” (Vaccarini Hall), is an important room covered almost completely by wooden bookshelves in order that nearly reach the decorated vault, placed between the round windows that illuminate the room.
In addition to the hall there were five other sumptuous rooms used for the Benedictine Museum and designed to closely match the library. Today the former museum rooms are home to the library’s reference and reading rooms.

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A half-Baroque church

The Burgos crucifix

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A square as the heart of the city

Feasting in Palazzolo

The colours of the cathedral

The Staircase of Angels

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Maiolica of the staircase

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A hall for the feasts

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The two churches

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The internal colours

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The disastrous earthquake

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A prominent church

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A city in colour

Discovering the mother church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

From International Gothic to present day

A small room with a golden entrance

A new site for a new church

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Prominent façade

One city, three sites

The wall comes to life

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A colourful floor

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Some prestigious works

Feast days

Two illustrious patron saints

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

The city of museums

A triumph of colour

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

A talking palace

An eagle-shaped city

Searching for colour

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The theatre of taste

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

A new site for a new city

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A feast only for Scicli

One city, two sites

Between white and black

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

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A majestic and luminous church

A symbol for the town

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

A long reconstruction

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

New roads for Catania

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The chocolate of Modica

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The church of Carmine

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Some masterpieces

A miniature city

Norman apses

The interior and its masterpieces

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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