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.

An eagle-shaped city

The Burgos crucifix

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Norman apses

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The city of museums

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A small room with a golden entrance

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

The interior and its masterpieces

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Staircase of Angels

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A miniature city

One city, two sites

A museum to save a tradition

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Many owners, one palace

A half-Baroque church

The theatre of taste

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Some masterpieces

The disastrous earthquake

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A square as the heart of the city

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A majestic and luminous church

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The two churches

A city in colour

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A talking palace

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Prominent façade

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A triumph of colour

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A feast only for Scicli

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Baroque town by the sea

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

Some prestigious works

Wonderful quick decorations

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

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

A hall for the feasts

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

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

New roads for Catania

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

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The colours of the cathedral

Between white and black

One city, three sites

A symbol for the town

Feasting in Palazzolo

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The wall comes to life

A long reconstruction

Discovering the mother church

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Searching for colour

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Feast days

The internal colours

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A prominent church

The Maiolica of the staircase

The church of Carmine

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

From International Gothic to present day

Two illustrious patron saints

A colourful floor