Ragusa

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

taste
A freshwater spring

Not far from the church of San Giuseppe (St. Joseph) is Porta Walter. It was built in medieval times and allowed people to leave the city and visit the lush green valley of Santa Domenica.
From here they would reach a spring where inhabitants rushed to quench their thirst and collect as much water as possible, especially on long, sweltering summer days!

sight
A question of perspective!

Depending on the time of day, the levels of the façade and its various elements create a unique and fascinating combination of light effects.
The plays of light and shadow change from hour to hour.
The endless chiaroscuro effects uncover and hide new details each time.

touch
Such rich materials!

The church brings out the diversity of the materials and the infinite possibilities for their use. As a matter of fact, the glass used in the large windows of the vault was also used to decorate the altars with a process that imitates marble.
Used for the worshippers’ seating, wood also proves to be an excellent material for beautiful wooden sculptures such as the Madonna near the altar.
madonna in legno altare

The colours of the cathedral

Searching for colour

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

New roads for Catania

Discovering the mother church

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

Feasting in Palazzolo

A prominent church

A talking palace

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

The Staircase of Angels

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

The Baroque town by the sea

A miniature city

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

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

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

From International Gothic to present day

The disastrous earthquake

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

The church of Carmine

A museum to save a tradition

An eagle-shaped city

Some masterpieces

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A triumph of colour

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

One city, three sites

A square as the heart of the city

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A half-Baroque church

A Nobel Prize in Modica

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

The Burgos crucifix

The Maiolica of the staircase

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The chocolate of Modica

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

A small room with a golden entrance

A majestic and luminous church

Between white and black

The wall comes to life

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The two churches

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A city in colour

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A feast only for Scicli

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Feast days

One city, two sites

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The internal colours

Norman apses

A symbol for the town

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

A new site for a new city

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A long reconstruction

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

A colourful floor

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A hall for the feasts

A new site for a new church

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Prominent façade

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

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

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The interior and its masterpieces

Wonderful quick decorations

The city of museums

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Two illustrious patron saints

Some prestigious works

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

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

The theatre of taste