Catania

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

sight
A hypnotic floor

With a splendid geometric design of curved and broken lines pointing towards the centre, the floor of the church of San Giuliano (St. Julian) mesmerises all who look upon it.
The effect is amplified by the contrast between the colours of the floor.
The red stone alternating with white marble with light grey veins is enough to make your head spin.

hearing
The singing of the Benedictines

On the Feast of St. Agatha, the saint’s statue is carried around the city streets in procession.
The long route takes us in front of the church of San Giuliano (St. Julian), where the devout Benedictine nuns, hidden behind the grilles, hear prayers, honour the Saint and take part in one of the most important celebrations.

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

The colours of the cathedral

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The Baroque town by the sea

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Searching for colour

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

A hall for the feasts

A new site for a new church

A square as the heart of the city

New roads for Catania

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The disastrous earthquake

A majestic and luminous church

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

The Staircase of Angels

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The two churches

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The chocolate of Modica

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

A colourful floor

Two illustrious patron saints

One city, three sites

Prominent façade

A talking palace

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Discovering the mother church

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A small room with a golden entrance

Norman apses

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

From International Gothic to present day

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The church of Carmine

A triumph of colour

The interior and its masterpieces

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

A prominent church

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The Burgos crucifix

A new site for a new city

A museum to save a tradition

A long reconstruction

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

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

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

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A symbol for the town

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

Between white and black

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The city of museums

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A miniature city

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A feast only for Scicli

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The internal colours

One city, two sites

Some prestigious works

Many owners, one palace

The wall comes to life

Some masterpieces

A city in colour

A half-Baroque church

Feast days

Wonderful quick decorations

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The theatre of taste