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 museum to save a tradition

One city, two sites

A symbol for the town

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A new site for a new church

Norman apses

Some masterpieces

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

The chocolate of Modica

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Baroque town by the sea

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The disastrous earthquake

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The internal colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The two churches

Between white and black

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Some prestigious works

The city of museums

Searching for colour

Discovering the mother church

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

A miniature city

A colourful floor

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

The theatre of taste

Wonderful quick decorations

An eagle-shaped city

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

The church of Carmine

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

A prominent church

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The Burgos crucifix

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Feast days

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A half-Baroque church

A feast only for Scicli

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A majestic and luminous church

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

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

Two illustrious patron saints

A city in colour

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A Nobel Prize in Modica

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A talking palace

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A new site for a new city

One city, three sites

From International Gothic to present day

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

A small room with a golden entrance

A long reconstruction

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The interior and its masterpieces

The wall comes to life

The Staircase of Angels

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Prominent façade

Feasting in Palazzolo

A triumph of colour

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A square as the heart of the city

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

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

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A hall for the feasts

New roads for Catania

Connections with other UNESCO sites