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.

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A new site for a new church

A miniature city

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The city of museums

Between white and black

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The theatre of taste

The chocolate of Modica

An eagle-shaped city

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A talking palace

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

A city in colour

A new site for a new city

A symbol for the town

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Burgos crucifix

The two churches

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A colourful floor

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The wall comes to life

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

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

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Discovering the mother church

One city, three sites

A prominent church

A half-Baroque church

A long reconstruction

The Staircase of Angels

The interior and its masterpieces

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A hall for the feasts

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Baroque town by the sea

Some prestigious works

The disastrous earthquake

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A square as the heart of the city

New roads for Catania

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A museum to save a tradition

One city, two sites

The internal colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A majestic and luminous church

Searching for colour

Two illustrious patron saints

Some masterpieces

Connections with other UNESCO sites

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

A small room with a golden entrance

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Norman apses

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The church of Carmine

Wonderful quick decorations

Prominent façade

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Feast days

Many owners, one palace

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A feast only for Scicli

A triumph of colour