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.

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Baroque town by the sea

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Staircase of Angels

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

One city, two sites

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

Searching for colour

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

The city of museums

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The chocolate of Modica

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

Between white and black

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

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

A feast only for Scicli

Feast days

Feasting in Palazzolo

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Some prestigious works

Norman apses

A museum to save a tradition

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

The Burgos crucifix

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The disastrous earthquake

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

Some masterpieces

A square as the heart of the city

A symbol for the town

A new site for a new church

A triumph of colour

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

St. Sebastian, so much work!

One city, three sites

A new site for a new city

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

A colourful floor

A talking palace

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A prominent church

An eagle-shaped city

The church of Carmine

The wall comes to life

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Prominent façade

From International Gothic to present day

A long reconstruction

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The internal colours

A miniature city

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The two churches

A half-Baroque church

Wonderful quick decorations

A hall for the feasts

New roads for Catania

The theatre of taste

The colours of the cathedral

Discovering the mother church

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Many owners, one palace

The interior and its masterpieces

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

Two illustrious patron saints