Ragusa

One city, two sites

The town of Ragusa Ibla is built across three different hilly areas separated by a deep valley.
The town is the union of Ibla and Ragusa: Ibla was founded by the Sicels, before the birth of Christ. Ragusa, on the other hand, has much less ancient origins and is linked to the tragic earthquake.foto città nel complesso Following the earthquake, when deciding where to rebuild the town, no agreement could be reached.
The population was divided into two factions: the sangiorgiari suggested the old site; the sangiovannari sought to rebuild it elsewhere.
The former were aristocrats of very old lineage who lived in the parish of San Giorgio (St. George); the Sangiovannari, on the other hand, who lived outside the walls in the district of San Giovanni (St. John), were made up of the poor and the nouveau riche. Neither side wanted to give in, so two independent towns were built. foto IblaIbla was rebuilt on a lower hill than Ragusa and the old road layout was maintained.
Ragusa was planned perfectly with a system of roads that crossed at right angles.
Though rebuilt independently and autonomously from one another, Ragusa and Ibla share the style of Baroque art.
Over time the clear division was lost and the inhabitants began to live in the intermediate space, but it was not until 1926 that Ibla and Ragusa were reunited.foto ragusa

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The city of museums

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A city in colour

One city, three sites

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The interior and its masterpieces

Prominent façade

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Feasting in Palazzolo

The two churches

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A symbol for the town

A museum to save a tradition

Norman apses

The Baroque town by the sea

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The internal colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The church of Carmine

The colours of the cathedral

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Wonderful quick decorations

Feast days

Some masterpieces

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A small room with a golden entrance

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

A half-Baroque church

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A new site for a new church

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

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

A new site for a new city

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

New roads for Catania

Some prestigious works

The Maiolica of the staircase

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

An eagle-shaped city

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Between white and black

The Burgos crucifix

Two illustrious patron saints

Searching for colour

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

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A miniature city

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Discovering the mother church

A prominent church

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A triumph of colour

A square as the heart of the city

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

One city, two sites

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A talking palace

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Staircase of Angels

A majestic and luminous church

A colourful floor

Many owners, one palace

From International Gothic to present day

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

The chocolate of Modica

A hall for the feasts

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A feast only for Scicli

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

A long reconstruction

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The wall comes to life

The theatre of taste