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.

Searching for colour

A square as the heart of the city

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A long reconstruction

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A new site for a new church

A small room with a golden entrance

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A half-Baroque church

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

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

A triumph of colour

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Some masterpieces

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Staircase of Angels

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

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

One city, three sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Two illustrious patron saints

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A majestic and luminous church

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A miniature city

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The interior and its masterpieces

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

The theatre of taste

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The disastrous earthquake

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The two churches

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The church of Carmine

Prominent façade

A city in colour

A talking palace

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The colours of the cathedral

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Discovering the mother church

The city of museums

From International Gothic to present day

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Between white and black

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A prominent church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

Feast days

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A feast only for Scicli

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Feasting in Palazzolo

A new site for a new city

The wall comes to life

The internal colours

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

A symbol for the town

One city, two sites

The Baroque town by the sea

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

New roads for Catania

The chocolate of Modica

A museum to save a tradition

The Burgos crucifix

Many owners, one palace

Wonderful quick decorations

An eagle-shaped city

Norman apses

Some prestigious works

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A colourful floor

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Limestone, the colour of harmony