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.

New roads for Catania

A city in colour

A long reconstruction

Feast days

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Two illustrious patron saints

The two churches

The Staircase of Angels

The interior and its masterpieces

The chocolate of Modica

The internal colours

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A symbol for the town

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

A new site for a new city

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

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

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

A talking palace

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The church of Carmine

The theatre of taste

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Some masterpieces

Between white and black

A new site for a new church

Searching for colour

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A colourful floor

From International Gothic to present day

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A Nobel Prize in Modica

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

An eagle-shaped city

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The wall comes to life

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

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

Feasting in Palazzolo

A hall for the feasts

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

One city, two sites

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

A half-Baroque church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Discovering the mother church

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Some prestigious works

Norman apses

The Burgos crucifix

A prominent church

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

Many owners, one palace

Prominent façade

A miniature city

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

One city, three sites

A museum to save a tradition

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The city of museums

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Wonderful quick decorations

A square as the heart of the city

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A feast only for Scicli

The Baroque town by the sea

The colours of the cathedral

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

The disastrous earthquake

A majestic and luminous church

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

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town