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 kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A new site for a new city

The interior and its masterpieces

The wall comes to life

A majestic and luminous church

Wonderful quick decorations

Feasting in Palazzolo

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A square as the heart of the city

Prominent façade

The church of Carmine

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The Maiolica of the staircase

A prominent church

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A half-Baroque church

Some prestigious works

A colourful floor

A miniature city

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

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

New roads for Catania

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The disastrous earthquake

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

The city of museums

The chocolate of Modica

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Norman apses

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The two churches

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

Many owners, one palace

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A symbol for the town

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

The theatre of taste

Discovering the mother church

A feast only for Scicli

A Nobel Prize in Modica

One city, two sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

One city, three sites

A long reconstruction

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

From International Gothic to present day

A talking palace

An eagle-shaped city

The colours of the cathedral

Between white and black

The Baroque town by the sea

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The internal colours

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A city in colour

A museum to save a tradition

Some masterpieces

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Staircase of Angels

A hall for the feasts

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

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

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

Feast days

The Burgos crucifix

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Searching for colour

A triumph of colour

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A small room with a golden entrance

A new site for a new church

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara