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 triumph of colour

The church of Carmine

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The disastrous earthquake

The Maiolica of the staircase

An eagle-shaped city

Wonderful quick decorations

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A new site for a new church

Between white and black

The chocolate of Modica

The Staircase of Angels

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A symbol for the town

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

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A talking palace

The façade used as a puppet theatre

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

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

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

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Searching for colour

A miniature city

Two illustrious patron saints

The colours of the cathedral

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The two churches

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Baroque town by the sea

Some prestigious works

A hall for the feasts

A half-Baroque church

A square as the heart of the city

The internal colours

From International Gothic to present day

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

A city in colour

A small room with a golden entrance

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A majestic and luminous church

The wall comes to life

The city of museums

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

The theatre of taste

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

A prominent church

A feast only for Scicli

Prominent façade

A long reconstruction

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

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

New roads for Catania

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Discovering the mother church

Feasting in Palazzolo

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The interior and its masterpieces

A colourful floor

One city, three sites

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

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Many owners, one palace

One city, two sites

Feast days

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

Modica, a city with ancient origins

Norman apses

The Burgos crucifix

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Some masterpieces

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom