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 San Giovanni Evangelista

Discovering the mother church

The colours of the cathedral

A museum to save a tradition

A new site for a new church

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A square as the heart of the city

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Baroque town by the sea

Two illustrious patron saints

Some masterpieces

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

A new site for a new city

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A majestic and luminous church

The Burgos crucifix

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Feasting in Palazzolo

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A small room with a golden entrance

The wall comes to life

Many owners, one palace

One city, two sites

A long reconstruction

Wonderful quick decorations

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

From International Gothic to present day

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A triumph of colour

New roads for Catania

The church of Carmine

The disastrous earthquake

The internal colours

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

An eagle-shaped city

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A city in colour

Norman apses

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Searching for colour

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A hall for the feasts

The Staircase of Angels

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

Between white and black

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

A half-Baroque church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

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

The two churches

A colourful floor

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Some prestigious works

The Maiolica of the staircase

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A symbol for the town

A prominent church

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The city of museums

Prominent façade

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

One city, three sites

The theatre of taste

A talking palace

The chocolate of Modica

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Feast days

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The interior and its masterpieces

A feast only for Scicli

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A miniature city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara