Ragusa

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

sight
A valley for Palazzo La Rocca

The green valley overlooked by Palazzo La Rocca is a riot of colours that vary with the changing seasons.
From the strong bright colours of spring, it moves on to shades of yellow and ochre in summer due to the lack of rain. As it reaches the end of summer, the colours are reborn with autumn fruits, such as pomegranate and quince.
Finally, winter arrives, which by nature makes everything darker, grey and less luxuriant.

hearing
The noises of a bygone era

The corbels of Palazzo La Rocca are a memory from a bygone era, especially the balcony with the flute and tenor mandola players, which brings to mind the sweet melodies played at the great parties held at the Palazzo, one of the most important events for the aristocracy. Delicate sounds accompanied the balls and dances in the great hall!

smell
The smell of the stone

The entrance to Palazzo La Rocca is extremely evocative.
With a little imagination you can picture Don Saverio La Rocca climbing the pietra pece staircase at the entrance.
What makes the atrium unique, however, is the strong smell of petroleum that envelops the entire space. It’s hard to believe, but the stone’s composition gives the room a sharp scent that verges on unpleasant, though it is fascinating to think that nature was able to create such a strong-smelling stone.

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

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

The Baroque town by the sea

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The two churches

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A new site for a new city

An eagle-shaped city

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A talking palace

A new site for a new church

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

A square as the heart of the city

Wonderful quick decorations

A colourful floor

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The wall comes to life

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Some masterpieces

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The Maiolica of the staircase

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Some prestigious works

Limestone, the colour of harmony

One city, three sites

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Staircase of Angels

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The chocolate of Modica

A symbol for the town

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Discovering the mother church

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

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

One city, two sites

New roads for Catania

A miniature city

A half-Baroque church

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The city of museums

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

Prominent façade

A city in colour

A triumph of colour

A feast only for Scicli

Two illustrious patron saints

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A museum to save a tradition

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Searching for colour

Feast days

The disastrous earthquake

The theatre of taste

Norman apses

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A hall for the feasts

From International Gothic to present day

A prominent church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The internal colours

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

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

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Burgos crucifix

A long reconstruction

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Feasting in Palazzolo

A small room with a golden entrance

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Between white and black

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The interior and its masterpieces

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

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

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso