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

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

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

One city, three sites

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A new site for a new city

A colourful floor

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

A feast only for Scicli

New roads for Catania

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Some prestigious works

Many owners, one palace

A symbol for the town

A majestic and luminous church

A miniature city

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

From International Gothic to present day

The chocolate of Modica

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The internal colours

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The church of Carmine

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

An eagle-shaped city

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

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

One city, two sites

A new site for a new church

Two illustrious patron saints

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

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

Wonderful quick decorations

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

A small room with a golden entrance

The two churches

A hall for the feasts

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Prominent façade

The disastrous earthquake

Searching for colour

The Maiolica of the staircase

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

Between white and black

A talking palace

A city in colour

The Baroque town by the sea

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A long reconstruction

The colours of the cathedral

A triumph of colour

Some masterpieces

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Feast days

Norman apses

Feasting in Palazzolo

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A half-Baroque church

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

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

The city of museums

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The Staircase of Angels

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The interior and its masterpieces

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The wall comes to life

A prominent church

Discovering the mother church

A square as the heart of the city

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Burgos crucifix

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The theatre of taste

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers