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.

Prominent façade

A feast only for Scicli

A triumph of colour

The wall comes to life

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

Discovering the mother church

A half-Baroque church

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A prominent church

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The interior and its masterpieces

One city, three sites

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Some masterpieces

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

The theatre of taste

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The disastrous earthquake

Searching for colour

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

A city in colour

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Feasting in Palazzolo

The colours of the cathedral

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Staircase of Angels

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The two churches

The internal colours

Two illustrious patron saints

Wonderful quick decorations

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

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A new site for a new city

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

A miniature city

The Baroque town by the sea

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Norman apses

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A symbol for the town

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

From International Gothic to present day

A colourful floor

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Some prestigious works

Limestone, the colour of harmony

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Feast days

A small room with a golden entrance

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The city of museums

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

A square as the heart of the city

The Burgos crucifix

A majestic and luminous church

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

New roads for Catania

A hall for the feasts

A talking palace

A long reconstruction

Between white and black

An eagle-shaped city

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

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

One city, two sites

The church of Carmine

The chocolate of Modica

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

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?