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

A prominent church

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

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

The Staircase of Angels

Two illustrious patron saints

A talking palace

Prominent façade

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The disastrous earthquake

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A new site for a new church

Wonderful quick decorations

Feast days

From International Gothic to present day

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A colourful floor

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Baroque town by the sea

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The Maiolica of the staircase

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Connections with other UNESCO sites

One city, two sites

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

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Norman apses

The colours of the cathedral

An eagle-shaped city

A symbol for the town

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

A feast only for Scicli

The church of Carmine

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A long reconstruction

Some masterpieces

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

The Burgos crucifix

Discovering the mother church

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

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

A city in colour

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Some prestigious works

A half-Baroque church

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A museum to save a tradition

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

A miniature city

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

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 Maria del Carmelo

The two churches

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A hall for the feasts

New roads for Catania

The theatre of taste

Between white and black

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Feasting in Palazzolo

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

A new site for a new city

One city, three sites

A small room with a golden entrance

Many owners, one palace

A majestic and luminous church

The wall comes to life

The interior and its masterpieces

The internal colours

Searching for colour

The city of museums

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso