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 Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Maiolica of the staircase

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

A feast only for Scicli

Many owners, one palace

A long reconstruction

The chocolate of Modica

A colourful floor

A new site for a new church

The disastrous earthquake

The Baroque town by the sea

One city, two sites

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

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Between white and black

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

The Staircase of Angels

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A small room with a golden entrance

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

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

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The church of Carmine

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

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Norman apses

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Some masterpieces

A half-Baroque church

Prominent façade

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A triumph of colour

The city of museums

Feast days

The Burgos crucifix

A museum to save a tradition

Searching for colour

The two churches

A square as the heart of the city

The theatre of taste

Discovering the mother church

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Feasting in Palazzolo

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Wonderful quick decorations

From International Gothic to present day

A new site for a new city

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

An eagle-shaped city

A miniature city

The wall comes to life

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A symbol for the town

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A prominent church

New roads for Catania

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Some prestigious works

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Two illustrious patron saints

A majestic and luminous church

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A talking palace

The internal colours

A city in colour

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The colours of the cathedral

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

The interior and its masterpieces

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

One city, three sites