Catania

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

The church of San Giuliano (St. Julian) has a majestic white marble façade protected by a tall wrought iron gate.
foto con i tre portali
One of the structure’s most characteristic elements is undoubtedly the belly of the central section. The façade is also divided into two levels: the first contains the portals, but only the middle one grants access to the church; the second features seven louvre , windows, with the largest in the centre. The marble façade contrasts with the large octagon of the dark grey lava stone dome. A white stone loggia was built on it, which allowed the nuns to admire the city, and above all to watch the procession of St. Agatha passing along Via dei Crociferi.
foto particolare timpano su facciata  foto della parte alta tamburo ottagonale
The interior was enchanting! Plays of light and colour create an incredible atmosphere in the church.
Small and cosy thanks to the Greek cross central plan , the church floor immediately catches the eye, with white and red geometric designs. The white walls are illuminated by gold which outlines the edges and the most important elements. The church was also enriched by four chapels whose artwork broke up the white of the walls.

A half-Baroque church

New roads for Catania

Discovering the mother church

A miniature city

A prominent church

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

An eagle-shaped city

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

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

Some prestigious works

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Some masterpieces

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The Staircase of Angels

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

Two illustrious patron saints

A new site for a new church

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The colours of the cathedral

The internal colours

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The church of Carmine

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The city of museums

A symbol for the town

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The wall comes to life

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The theatre of taste

Prominent façade

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The Baroque town by the sea

The interior and its masterpieces

A hall for the feasts

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A talking palace

The Maiolica of the staircase

The disastrous earthquake

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The two churches

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Searching for colour

A long reconstruction

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A colourful floor

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A feast only for Scicli

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Feast days

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Norman apses

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

A small room with a golden entrance

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A triumph of colour

A square as the heart of the city

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

One city, three sites

The Burgos crucifix

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Between white and black

One city, two sites

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

Wonderful quick decorations

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

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

From International Gothic to present day

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

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A majestic and luminous church

Feasting in Palazzolo