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.

Many owners, one palace

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

A museum to save a tradition

One city, three sites

A hall for the feasts

One city, two sites

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Feasting in Palazzolo

A feast only for Scicli

The Staircase of Angels

The internal colours

The city of museums

New roads for Catania

A miniature city

Searching for colour

Between white and black

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

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

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

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Burgos crucifix

Prominent façade

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Feast days

A symbol for the town

A long reconstruction

A new site for a new city

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Maiolica of the staircase

The interior and its masterpieces

The church of Carmine

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Some prestigious works

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A triumph of colour

The two churches

The colours of the cathedral

From International Gothic to present day

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The disastrous earthquake

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Two illustrious patron saints

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A colourful floor

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A half-Baroque church

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A majestic and luminous church

The theatre of taste

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Wonderful quick decorations

A small room with a golden entrance

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

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

A prominent church

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A square as the heart of the city

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

Discovering the mother church

A talking palace

Norman apses

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The wall comes to life

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

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

The Baroque town by the sea

Some masterpieces

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A new site for a new church

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

An eagle-shaped city

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A city in colour