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.

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A city in colour

Two illustrious patron saints

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A new site for a new city

A long reconstruction

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

A small room with a golden entrance

A miniature city

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

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A hall for the feasts

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A square as the heart of the city

The theatre of taste

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

A half-Baroque church

Searching for colour

Feasting in Palazzolo

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Prominent façade

A museum to save a tradition

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

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

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The church of Carmine

Discovering the mother church

The interior and its masterpieces

A feast only for Scicli

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Many owners, one palace

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The colours of the cathedral

One city, two sites

Some masterpieces

The Staircase of Angels

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Norman apses

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The disastrous earthquake

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A colourful floor

The city of museums

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

The internal colours

A talking palace

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A triumph of colour

The Baroque town by the sea

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The chocolate of Modica

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A symbol for the town

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

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

The Burgos crucifix

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A prominent church

The two churches

One city, three sites

Feast days

Some prestigious works

New roads for Catania

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The wall comes to life

Wonderful quick decorations

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