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 senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A talking palace

A new site for a new church

A museum to save a tradition

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Norman apses

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The interior and its masterpieces

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A small room with a golden entrance

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

The Burgos crucifix

A square as the heart of the city

One city, three sites

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Feasting in Palazzolo

An eagle-shaped city

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

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

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

The Baroque town by the sea

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

A colourful floor

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The theatre of taste

A symbol for the town

Between white and black

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A prominent church

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

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

The colours of the cathedral

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

The disastrous earthquake

A hall for the feasts

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A feast only for Scicli

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Feast days

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The internal colours

The wall comes to life

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The city of museums

A majestic and luminous church

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Searching for colour

The Maiolica of the staircase

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

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

A miniature city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Prominent façade

A new site for a new city

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

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The two churches

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A long reconstruction

The Staircase of Angels

Discovering the mother church

A half-Baroque church

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The chocolate of Modica

Many owners, one palace

From International Gothic to present day

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Some masterpieces

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Two illustrious patron saints

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A triumph of colour

New roads for Catania

One city, two sites

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

Some prestigious works

Wonderful quick decorations

A city in colour

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