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# 62 • June 12 , 2015
Situated in southeastern Sicily, Val di Noto (the
Noto Valley) – with its eight gorgeous late-Baroque cities – became one of the Italian UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2002. The eight
cities are: Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania,
Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and
Scicli. These cities already existed during the
Medieval Age, but were rebuilt (in part or entirely) after the catastrophic earthquake of 1693.
Having followed the stylistic model predominant during the era, the cities’ architecture, urban plan and decorations constitute the culmination of one of the last periods of Baroque’s
flourish in Europe.
Known in Antiquity as Ibla, Ragusa features two
rather different city centers, one re-constructed
from the ground up, in the new style, after the
events of 1693, and the other according to its
original Medieval look. An itinerary through the
Baroque in Ragusa winds among nine principal churches (e.g. San Giovanni Battista, San
Giorgio, Santa Maria dei Miracoli), and seven
palazzi (including the Cancelleria, Bertini, and
Cosentini).
Palazzolo and Modica also have two urban centers. The first one in Palazzolo is a Medieval
center, around which the old city was rebuilt
after the earthquake. The new city subsequently developed around another town center. Of
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