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 two churches

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A majestic and luminous church

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Burgos crucifix

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A prominent church

The internal colours

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A new site for a new city

One city, two sites

A small room with a golden entrance

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

A triumph of colour

The city of museums

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Norman apses

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A square as the heart of the city

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The chocolate of Modica

The colours of the cathedral

A museum to save a tradition

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A miniature city

Feasting in Palazzolo

The disastrous earthquake

Two illustrious patron saints

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

A city in colour

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Feast days

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Searching for colour

The church of Carmine

Many owners, one palace

The interior and its masterpieces

Some masterpieces

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The Staircase of Angels

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Between white and black

The façade used as a puppet theatre

An eagle-shaped city

Prominent façade

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A feast only for Scicli

Some prestigious works

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A symbol for the town

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Wonderful quick decorations

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

A colourful floor

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

One city, three sites

New roads for Catania

The theatre of taste

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

From International Gothic to present day

A half-Baroque church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

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

A talking palace

The wall comes to life

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A hall for the feasts

Discovering the mother church

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

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

A long reconstruction

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers