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 senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A hall for the feasts

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A prominent church

A symbol for the town

The Staircase of Angels

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The wall comes to life

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The Maiolica of the staircase

The Baroque town by the sea

A new site for a new church

The city of museums

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

A majestic and luminous church

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A city in colour

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Two illustrious patron saints

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A small room with a golden entrance

Feast days

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Prominent façade

Searching for colour

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

A long reconstruction

The chocolate of Modica

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A new site for a new city

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

One city, three sites

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The theatre of taste

Between white and black

The disastrous earthquake

The two churches

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A miniature city

A triumph of colour

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A colourful floor

The Burgos crucifix

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The internal colours

A talking palace

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The interior and its masterpieces

Many owners, one palace

The church of Carmine

New roads for Catania

One city, two sites

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A feast only for Scicli

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A museum to save a tradition

From International Gothic to present day

The colours of the cathedral

Some prestigious works

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A half-Baroque church

Some masterpieces

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The façade used as a puppet theatre

An eagle-shaped city

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Norman apses

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Wonderful quick decorations

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

Discovering the mother church