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.

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

One city, three sites

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Baroque town by the sea

Discovering the mother church

The Staircase of Angels

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

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

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The chocolate of Modica

A new site for a new church

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The façade used as a puppet theatre

One city, two sites

Between white and black

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

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

A new site for a new city

A prominent church

A triumph of colour

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Wonderful quick decorations

Searching for colour

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

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The colours of the cathedral

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Burgos crucifix

Some masterpieces

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Two illustrious patron saints

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A talking palace

A majestic and luminous church

A symbol for the town

The theatre of taste

A miniature city

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

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Prominent façade

A city in colour

The internal colours

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Feast days

A colourful floor

Norman apses

A square as the heart of the city

A half-Baroque church

The interior and its masterpieces

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The city of museums

A hall for the feasts

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A museum to save a tradition

Feasting in Palazzolo

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Many owners, one palace

The wall comes to life

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Some prestigious works

The church of Carmine

A feast only for Scicli

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A long reconstruction

The Maiolica of the staircase

From International Gothic to present day

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

The disastrous earthquake

The two churches