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.

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A square as the heart of the city

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A talking palace

Limestone, the colour of harmony

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Prominent façade

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

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

Searching for colour

Norman apses

The façade used as a puppet theatre

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A prominent church

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Feasting in Palazzolo

A museum to save a tradition

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The city of museums

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A long reconstruction

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

New roads for Catania

An eagle-shaped city

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

One city, three sites

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A new site for a new city

The wall comes to life

A miniature city

The Baroque town by the sea

The internal colours

One city, two sites

A city in colour

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

Wonderful quick decorations

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

Discovering the mother church

The chocolate of Modica

The church of Carmine

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The colours of the cathedral

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Two illustrious patron saints

The two churches

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Staircase of Angels

The Burgos crucifix

A majestic and luminous church

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

Many owners, one palace

A symbol for the town

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A feast only for Scicli

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Some prestigious works

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Some masterpieces

A small room with a golden entrance

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The disastrous earthquake

The theatre of taste

A half-Baroque church

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A new site for a new church

The Maiolica of the staircase

Between white and black

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

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

A hall for the feasts

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A triumph of colour

Feast days

A colourful floor