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 cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Feasting in Palazzolo

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The wall comes to life

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A square as the heart of the city

Discovering the mother church

A new site for a new city

The Baroque town by the sea

Prominent façade

The theatre of taste

New roads for Catania

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The church of Carmine

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

Feast days

The chocolate of Modica

A museum to save a tradition

Between white and black

One city, three sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A small room with a golden entrance

Norman apses

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

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

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Searching for colour

A miniature city

From International Gothic to present day

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

A long reconstruction

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The interior and its masterpieces

A colourful floor

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A symbol for the town

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A hall for the feasts

Wonderful quick decorations

A talking palace

A city in colour

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Some masterpieces

One city, two sites

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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Some prestigious works

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A new site for a new church

The colours of the cathedral

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The city of museums

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Burgos crucifix

An eagle-shaped city

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

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The internal colours

A feast only for Scicli

The Staircase of Angels

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The two churches

A prominent church

A half-Baroque church

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

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Many owners, one palace