Noto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

sight
A panorama over Noto

The terrace of Santa Chiara will take your breath away! Partly because of all the stairs you have to climb, but more so for the spectacular view.
The whole city of Noto is below you, where infinite shades of colours embellish the landscape.
The green of the trees and surrounding hills; the blue of the sea that shines brightly in the distance, illuminated by the sun like a carpet of diamonds; and the golden cathedral of San Nicolò whose façade and round dome can be seen. A show of lights and colours!vista dalla terrazza di Santa Chiara

touch
The warm stucco

The gilded stuccoes on the ceiling of Santa Chiara (St. Claire) shine in the sunlight.
To the touch they will always be warmer than any other cold marble statue or sculpture, which are unable to retain heat.
Like stucco, wood will also always be warmer than this precious and ice-cold stone.

hearing
A gentle song

The nuns’singing was remarkable.
During religious services the church was filled with sweet voices and gentle songs alternating with delicate prayers.
If you return to the 18th century in your mind you can still hear the engrossed nuns singing Gloria del Signore (Glory of the Lord).

The disastrous earthquake

A museum to save a tradition

A Nobel Prize in Modica

New roads for Catania

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A small room with a golden entrance

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

A triumph of colour

Some prestigious works

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A feast only for Scicli

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Burgos crucifix

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

The colours of the cathedral

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Baroque town by the sea

Some masterpieces

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

From International Gothic to present day

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

One city, two sites

A symbol for the town

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The Maiolica of the staircase

Searching for colour

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A miniature city

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

A new site for a new church

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The chocolate of Modica

A long reconstruction

An eagle-shaped city

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

The interior and its masterpieces

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The city of museums

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The church of Carmine

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

One city, three sites

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

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

A city in colour

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A half-Baroque church

A prominent church

Feast days

Feasting in Palazzolo

Discovering the mother church

Prominent façade

The theatre of taste

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A square as the heart of the city

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Between white and black

A colourful floor

The internal colours

The Staircase of Angels

Norman apses

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

A talking palace

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

The wall comes to life

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A majestic and luminous church

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The two churches

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo