Scicli

A feast only for Scicli

Madonna a Cavallo, Chiesa MadreOn the last Saturday of May the Madonna a Cavallo (Madonna on Horseback) is celebrated in Scicli. This very important feast celebrates the liberation of Christians from Arab rule.
In 1091 Roger I of Sicily and his army freed Scicli from the Saracens, but they didn’t do it all by themselves… The Madonna on horseback came to their aid. Also known as the Madonna delle Milizie (Madonna of the Militia), she miraculously appeared and took part in the final battle. This incredible event could not be forgotten, so it is still celebrated every year.
In her honour, the town is decorated with lights and all the citizens participate in long processions; it is the only feast in the world where a warrior virgin is celebrated.
A play is also put on that tells the story of the battle and the miraculous appearance. To mark this day for remembering the Virgin’s miraculous intervention, typical desserts are prepared called Teste di Turco (“Testi Turcu” in dialect), meaning Turkish Heads. These desserts are an ideological trophy. In fact, their shape is reminiscent of the turbans that covered the heads of the defeated invaders. Despite their inspiration, they are delicious pastry puffs filled with ricotta cheese or custard.

The Maiolica of the staircase

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A symbol for the town

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A Nobel Prize in Modica

An eagle-shaped city

A long reconstruction

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

The chocolate of Modica

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The colours of the cathedral

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Searching for colour

A square as the heart of the city

Between white and black

A feast only for Scicli

A majestic and luminous church

The wall comes to life

A triumph of colour

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Feasting in Palazzolo

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The Staircase of Angels

Two illustrious patron saints

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

A colourful floor

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Feast days

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Some masterpieces

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A talking palace

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Many owners, one palace

One city, two sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The city of museums

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The church of Carmine

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

The two churches

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A new site for a new church

A small room with a golden entrance

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

A prominent church

A miniature city

A half-Baroque church

A city in colour

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

Some prestigious works

Wonderful quick decorations

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

The Burgos crucifix

The internal colours

One city, three sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Prominent façade

New roads for Catania

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

Discovering the mother church

Norman apses

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A hall for the feasts

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

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

The theatre of taste

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A new site for a new city

The interior and its masterpieces

The façade used as a puppet theatre

From International Gothic to present day