Palazzolo Acreide

Some masterpieces

The church houses splendid works that complete and decorate the interior.
The altar area definitely attracts attention. Composed of a series of wonderful elements, the structure behind the altar is a carving masterpiece.
La struttura dietro l’altare La struttura dietro l’altare
It is richly elaborate and a dozen columns surmounted by putto heads complete the composition. The same attention to detail can be found in the use of colour on the lower part of the structure, completely in marble; the artist chose and combined fragments of blue, red, yellow and white marble.

A little above the altar is the painting by Paolo Tanasi completed in 1827.
The work depicts the Annunciation , one of the most important moments in Christian history when the angel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah. Tanasi chose well-defined colours such as yellow, which highlights the shape of the angel, and blue, which emphasises the corporeality of the Virgin Mary.
In the transept you can see the Madonna del Carmelo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) completely covered in gold. She shines from afar and demands attention. The right nave houses the statue of Santa Teresa (St. Theresa) and as usual, above one of the altars is the depiction of the Holy Family, the Virgin Mary, the Child and John the Baptist.
Un dipinto, dietro l’altare raffigura l’Annunciazione la statua di Santa Teresa Madonna del Carmelo, nel transetto

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The disastrous earthquake

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

The Baroque town by the sea

The chocolate of Modica

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

The Burgos crucifix

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A museum to save a tradition

A long reconstruction

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A half-Baroque church

New roads for Catania

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

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

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A symbol for the town

Feasting in Palazzolo

The city of museums

Prominent façade

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

A triumph of colour

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The façade used as a puppet theatre

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Norman apses

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The church of Carmine

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Some masterpieces

A miniature city

One city, two sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Wonderful quick decorations

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Feast days

A small room with a golden entrance

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The colours of the cathedral

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Modica, a city with ancient origins

One city, three sites

A square as the heart of the city

Many owners, one palace

Discovering the mother church

The two churches

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A new site for a new city

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Searching for colour

A talking palace

The theatre of taste

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

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

The interior and its masterpieces

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The internal colours

The Staircase of Angels

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Between white and black

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

A majestic and luminous church

A new site for a new church

The wall comes to life

A colourful floor

A prominent church

An eagle-shaped city

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Some prestigious works

A feast only for Scicli

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe