Introduction to Val di Noto

Fantasies of light and colour

Introduction to the route

The proposed educational route retraces the main events of the history of the Val di Noto.
Through the suggested itineraries it intends to lead younger children along their discovery of the eight towns: Catania, Militello in Val di Catania, Caltagirone, Ragusa, Modica, Scicli, Palazzolo Acreide and Noto.
This is a unique chance and opportunity to examine a territory rich in history.
Following the tragic earthquake of 1693, the towns of the Val di Noto were rebuilt with such homogeneity and richness from an artistic and architectural point of view that they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The post-earthquake reconstruction is examined through many aspects that revolve around the brightness of paint colours, effects and plays on light and shadow that make the heritage a particularly fascinating and completely unusual sight. As well as featuring prominently in the lively character of the communities that inhabit these places, colour accompanies our gaze in a conscious interpretation of architectural shapes and unique landscapes, becoming an inspiration for artisanal production, too.
The children, then, can expect to experience many, powerful emotions.

Prominent façade

The wall comes to life

Two illustrious patron saints

A prominent church

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

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

A small room with a golden entrance

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Discovering the mother church

The chocolate of Modica

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

Searching for colour

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Norman apses

A majestic and luminous church

A half-Baroque church

A talking palace

Between white and black

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

A long reconstruction

The Baroque town by the sea

A symbol for the town

One city, two sites

The Staircase of Angels

Feast days

A museum to save a tradition

A square as the heart of the city

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Maiolica of the staircase

The interior and its masterpieces

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

From International Gothic to present day

A new site for a new city

The theatre of taste

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The disastrous earthquake

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A feast only for Scicli

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

Many owners, one palace

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The church of Carmine

The colours of the cathedral

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Some masterpieces

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A miniature city

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A city in colour

St. Sebastian, so much work!

An eagle-shaped city

The Burgos crucifix

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The city of museums

Feasting in Palazzolo

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

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

Some prestigious works

Wonderful quick decorations

A triumph of colour

A new site for a new church

The internal colours

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

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

A hall for the feasts

A colourful floor

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The two churches

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

One city, three sites

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The character of Badia Sant’Agata