Noto

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The city was rebuilt in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake, and when the significant powers, clergy and aristocracy asked for their palaces to be rebuilt, it was the Baron Asmundo who divided the land perfectly.
Since the heart of the city in the lower area was the Cathedral, that was where the new palaces were built.Palazzo Nicolaci salendo via Nicolaci verso la chiesa To the right of the church are the religious buildings, the Archbishop’s Palace and the monastery of the Holy Saviour; on the land to the left the residences of the most influential aristocratic families in Noto were built, Palazzo Landolina and Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata.
The latter was built between 1720 and 1750 by Don Giacomo Nicolaci , on the present day Via Corrado Nicolaci.
The question of who the architect was has never been resolved; there are many theories and few certainties. However, it remains one of the most interesting and surprising buildings in Noto for the exuberant corbels that support the balconies of the façade and the round-bottomed wrought iron railings.

From International Gothic to present day

An eagle-shaped city

A square as the heart of the city

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The wall comes to life

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Two illustrious patron saints

The two churches

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A colourful floor

A majestic and luminous church

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

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

A symbol for the town

One city, three sites

New roads for Catania

Norman apses

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A talking palace

Between white and black

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The Burgos crucifix

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The chocolate of Modica

The Staircase of Angels

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Maiolica of the staircase

A new site for a new city

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

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

A city in colour

A new site for a new church

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

A small room with a golden entrance

A prominent church

The disastrous earthquake

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

The church of Carmine

Prominent façade

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The colours of the cathedral

The theatre of taste

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A feast only for Scicli

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The internal colours

Feasting in Palazzolo

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A hall for the feasts

The Baroque town by the sea

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Some masterpieces

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A half-Baroque church

A long reconstruction

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

The interior and its masterpieces

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The city of museums

Discovering the mother church

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

One city, two sites

A triumph of colour

A miniature city

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

Some prestigious works

Wonderful quick decorations

Searching for colour

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Feast days

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours