Noto

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The harmonious architecture and homogeneity of Noto stone create such a scenic balance that the city looks as though it were built in one night.
Noto was actually built over half a century by various architects and craftspeople. Noto omogeneita e l'armonia archtettureThe work of the architect Angelo Italia was fundamental: he organised the city space and created splendid scenographic effects, transforming squares and streets into stages.
No less important was Rosario Gagliardi .
His constant presence in Noto allowed him to closely monitor all of his construction sites and to teach and prepare new, young architects. Upon his death, his works were completed by one of his students, Vincenzo Sinatra , who never forgot the expert’s teachings.
None of this could have been achieved without good basic organisation.
Thanks to Baron Giuseppe Asmundo, the land for constructing the new buildings was allocated fairly and the height of the buildings was also clearly defined. In this way, the buildings were all the same, creating a harmonious and homogeneous landscape.
The choice of white limestone , was also important.This local stone, when lit up by the sun, takes on a golden yellow colour reminiscent of honey.Its appearance has remained unchanged over the centuries; minimal interventions were made and you can still admire it in all its beauty and grace today.The effect is a landscape wrapped in an ethereal light.

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

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

The wall comes to life

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A new site for a new city

A half-Baroque church

A feast only for Scicli

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

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

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The theatre of taste

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The interior and its masterpieces

A prominent church

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Searching for colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A museum to save a tradition

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Limestone, the colour of harmony

New roads for Catania

The internal colours

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Feasting in Palazzolo

A colourful floor

A square as the heart of the city

Some masterpieces

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Two illustrious patron saints

The chocolate of Modica

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

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Wonderful quick decorations

A city in colour

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The two churches

A talking palace

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A miniature city

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The city of museums

The Staircase of Angels

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The church of Carmine

A hall for the feasts

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

Feast days

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A triumph of colour

One city, three sites

The disastrous earthquake

Prominent façade

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A long reconstruction

A symbol for the town

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

Norman apses

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Many owners, one palace

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Between white and black

From International Gothic to present day

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Discovering the mother church

A new site for a new church

A majestic and luminous church

A small room with a golden entrance

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

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

One city, two sites

The Burgos crucifix

The colours of the cathedral

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Some prestigious works

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci