Modica

Some prestigious works

Inside the church there are valuable works of art including the Tavola di Sant’Alberto (Panel of St. Albert), the Madonna del Latte and the Annunciation. The former was perhaps part of a polyptych, a painting composition that also included other panels.
The painting depicts St. Albert with a lily and a book in one hand and a crucifix in the other. The work dates back to the early 16th century. According to some scholars the panel was painted between 1513 and 1517 by Leonardo da Vinci’s student, Cesare de Sesto, when he lived in Sicily.
The Madonna del Latte is an interesting sculpture made of papier-mâché, a much more delicate material than classic marble, wood or bronze. The work dates from around the 14th century and is located to the right of the church atrium.
scultura Madonna del Latte tela santa maria maddalena
The Annunciation is a sculptural group in white marble, created by the workshop of a Palermo-born artist, Giandomenico Gagini.
The faces of the angel and the Virgin were carved with extreme delicateness and both the blue dress of Mary and the angel’s hair were finely coloured.

The Burgos crucifix

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Norman apses

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The two churches

The church of Carmine

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Discovering the mother church

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Between white and black

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

The internal colours

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

A majestic and luminous church

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

One city, three sites

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

An eagle-shaped city

A hall for the feasts

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A prominent church

A square as the heart of the city

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

Wonderful quick decorations

A feast only for Scicli

The Baroque town by the sea

A small room with a golden entrance

A museum to save a tradition

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

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Prominent façade

The interior and its masterpieces

A long reconstruction

A talking palace

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Some masterpieces

A miniature city

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A colourful floor

A half-Baroque church

The theatre of taste

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

New roads for Catania

A new site for a new city

Some prestigious works

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A symbol for the town

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The city of museums

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Feasting in Palazzolo

The chocolate of Modica

Many owners, one palace

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Feast days

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

From International Gothic to present day

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

The Staircase of Angels

The wall comes to life

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

One city, two sites

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new site for a new church

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The colours of the cathedral

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

A triumph of colour

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

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

Searching for colour

A city in colour

Limestone, the colour of harmony