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.

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

New roads for Catania

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A prominent church

The Staircase of Angels

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

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The chocolate of Modica

A new site for a new church

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The church of Carmine

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

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

The internal colours

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A miniature city

Searching for colour

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

Many owners, one palace

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Two illustrious patron saints

Between white and black

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

Prominent façade

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

From International Gothic to present day

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

The theatre of taste

An eagle-shaped city

A symbol for the town

The wall comes to life

A small room with a golden entrance

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

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

Feast days

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

One city, three sites

Norman apses

A majestic and luminous church

A new site for a new city

A triumph of colour

A hall for the feasts

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Wonderful quick decorations

A long reconstruction

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Burgos crucifix

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The two churches

Feasting in Palazzolo

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The colours of the cathedral

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A city in colour

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

A square as the heart of the city

The Baroque town by the sea

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A half-Baroque church

The interior and its masterpieces

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The city of museums

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Some masterpieces

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A colourful floor

A feast only for Scicli

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

The disastrous earthquake

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

One city, two sites

A talking palace

Some prestigious works

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Discovering the mother church

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci