Catania

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

sight
A hypnotic floor

With a splendid geometric design of curved and broken lines pointing towards the centre, the floor of the church of San Giuliano (St. Julian) mesmerises all who look upon it.
The effect is amplified by the contrast between the colours of the floor.
The red stone alternating with white marble with light grey veins is enough to make your head spin.

hearing
The singing of the Benedictines

On the Feast of St. Agatha, the saint’s statue is carried around the city streets in procession.
The long route takes us in front of the church of San Giuliano (St. Julian), where the devout Benedictine nuns, hidden behind the grilles, hear prayers, honour the Saint and take part in one of the most important celebrations.

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A museum to save a tradition

A square as the heart of the city

Wonderful quick decorations

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Connections with other UNESCO sites

New roads for Catania

Searching for colour

The wall comes to life

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

A prominent church

The Maiolica of the staircase

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A feast only for Scicli

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Feast days

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A hall for the feasts

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

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

The Staircase of Angels

A miniature city

Some prestigious works

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

A colourful floor

The internal colours

The Baroque town by the sea

The Burgos crucifix

A half-Baroque church

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

Some masterpieces

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The two churches

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

Norman apses

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

The disastrous earthquake

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

Prominent façade

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A new site for a new city

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

One city, three sites

The church of Carmine

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Feasting in Palazzolo

One city, two sites

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

The chocolate of Modica

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Two illustrious patron saints

The city of museums

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A city in colour

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

From International Gothic to present day

Discovering the mother church

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A small room with a golden entrance

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A symbol for the town

The colours of the cathedral

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A long reconstruction

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A talking palace

An eagle-shaped city

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A new site for a new church

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Between white and black

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

The theatre of taste