Ragusa

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

taste
A freshwater spring

Not far from the church of San Giuseppe (St. Joseph) is Porta Walter. It was built in medieval times and allowed people to leave the city and visit the lush green valley of Santa Domenica.
From here they would reach a spring where inhabitants rushed to quench their thirst and collect as much water as possible, especially on long, sweltering summer days!

sight
A question of perspective!

Depending on the time of day, the levels of the façade and its various elements create a unique and fascinating combination of light effects.
The plays of light and shadow change from hour to hour.
The endless chiaroscuro effects uncover and hide new details each time.

touch
Such rich materials!

The church brings out the diversity of the materials and the infinite possibilities for their use. As a matter of fact, the glass used in the large windows of the vault was also used to decorate the altars with a process that imitates marble.
Used for the worshippers’ seating, wood also proves to be an excellent material for beautiful wooden sculptures such as the Madonna near the altar.
madonna in legno altare

A new site for a new city

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A symbol for the town

From International Gothic to present day

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A talking palace

A long reconstruction

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

One city, two sites

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

One city, three sites

The two churches

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

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

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

Norman apses

Wonderful quick decorations

A city in colour

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

A miniature city

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Between white and black

A half-Baroque church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The Baroque town by the sea

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A triumph of colour

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The city of museums

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The chocolate of Modica

The disastrous earthquake

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Some masterpieces

Feast days

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A museum to save a tradition

An eagle-shaped city

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The theatre of taste

The Staircase of Angels

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A small room with a golden entrance

A new site for a new church

A feast only for Scicli

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

New roads for Catania

Feasting in Palazzolo

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Discovering the mother church

A majestic and luminous church

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The wall comes to life

A prominent church

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

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Two illustrious patron saints

A colourful floor

Prominent façade

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The colours of the cathedral

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

A hall for the feasts

The internal colours

The Burgos crucifix

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Many owners, one palace

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Searching for colour

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Some prestigious works