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.

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A new site for a new church

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

Norman apses

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A prominent church

The internal colours

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A square as the heart of the city

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Prominent façade

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A colourful floor

The city of museums

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A new site for a new city

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Feast days

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

New roads for Catania

The disastrous earthquake

The wall comes to life

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

The two churches

Some masterpieces

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Searching for colour

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A majestic and luminous church

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A long reconstruction

The Baroque town by the sea

Many owners, one palace

Between white and black

One city, three sites

Discovering the mother church

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

A symbol for the town

Some prestigious works

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Staircase of Angels

The interior and its masterpieces

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A small room with a golden entrance

A miniature city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The colours of the cathedral

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Burgos crucifix

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

One city, two sites

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

A museum to save a tradition

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

An eagle-shaped city

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

From International Gothic to present day

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The church of Carmine

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

A talking palace

A feast only for Scicli

Feasting in Palazzolo

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The theatre of taste

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A triumph of colour

A half-Baroque church

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

A city in colour

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public