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

Feasting in Palazzolo

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

One city, two sites

A colourful floor

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A triumph of colour

A symbol for the town

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The colours of the cathedral

A miniature city

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new site for a new church

The internal colours

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

Two illustrious patron saints

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

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

Prominent façade

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

Discovering the mother church

The disastrous earthquake

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

One city, three sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The Staircase of Angels

The Burgos crucifix

Some prestigious works

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A square as the heart of the city

Some masterpieces

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A half-Baroque church

Searching for colour

A small room with a golden entrance

A majestic and luminous church

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The two churches

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

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

The Baroque town by the sea

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The chocolate of Modica

A hall for the feasts

A talking palace

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A long reconstruction

A new site for a new city

An eagle-shaped city

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

The theatre of taste

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The interior and its masterpieces

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Wonderful quick decorations

A prominent church

Norman apses

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

New roads for Catania

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

The wall comes to life

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

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The city of museums

A feast only for Scicli

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Feast days

The church of Carmine

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Modica, a city with ancient origins

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A city in colour

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction