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 senses tell the story of the Badia di Sant’Agata

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The Maiolica of the staircase

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A talking palace

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Feasting in Palazzolo

One city, three sites

A city in colour

Discovering the mother church

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Searching for colour

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The disastrous earthquake

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The chocolate of Modica

A long reconstruction

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

A majestic and luminous church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

A new site for a new church

A colourful floor

New roads for Catania

A triumph of colour

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Between white and black

One city, two sites

Wonderful quick decorations

The Baroque town by the sea

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A symbol for the town

From International Gothic to present day

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Norman apses

The city of museums

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A hall for the feasts

Some prestigious works

A new site for a new city

The two churches

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

An eagle-shaped city

Feast days

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The wall comes to life

A half-Baroque church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

The church of Carmine

The Burgos crucifix

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Staircase of Angels

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The theatre of taste

A prominent church

Some masterpieces

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Prominent façade

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A square as the heart of the city

A museum to save a tradition

The colours of the cathedral

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A miniature city

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The internal colours

The interior and its masterpieces

A feast only for Scicli

Two illustrious patron saints