Page 153 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

SOUTHERN SICIL Y  151

R San Carlo
Along Corso Vittorio Eman uele,
San Carlo (also called Chiesa del
Collegio because of the attached
former Jesuit monastery) has a
slightly convex façade with
three levels – Doric, Ionic and
Corinthian. The impressive Latin
cross plan interior is decorated
with frescoes.

R San Domenico
Looking over Piazza XXIV
Maggio, the church of San
Domenico is part of a group
of buildings that includes the Palazzo Landolina, former residence of the Norman Sant’Alfano family
Dominican Convent, worth
visiting because of its splendid with complex wrought-iron that leads upwards from Piazza
entrance with a host of friezes. work and grotes que and myth- Municipio and the Cathedral.
Like other buildings of this kind, ological figures: lions, sirens, The façade – designed by
the convent was abandoned griffons and cherubs. The interior Gagliardi but never finished –
after the elimination of all has fresco decor ation in the has a large Baroque door. The
congregational orders, decreed lavish rooms, the most Latin cross plan interior boasts
by the Italian government in striking of which is the a magnificent Renaissance
1866. The lovely façade of the Salone delle Feste (Hall of statue by Francesco
church, with its convex central Festivities). The palazzo Laurana, known as
part, was designed by the will soon house the Madonna della
architect Rosario Gagliardi. the Biblioteca Neve (Madonna
The portal gives way to a Comunale, or City of the Snow,
rounded interior, which is Library (currently 1471) which
crowned by five cupolas with on Via Cavour), miraculously
fine stucco decoration. founded in the survived the
mid-19th century, earthquake. At the
with many old end of the left-hand
volumes and the aisle is Cappella
architects’ original Detail of Landolina. The
designs for Noto. Baroque decoration Romanesque statues
of lions also come
P Palazzo Landolina from the old town. The church
To the right of the Cathedral is surrounded by palazzi,
is the 19th-century Palazzo convents and churches.
Vescovile (Bishop’s Palace), while Among others, the façades of
to the left is Palazzo Landolina, Sant’Agata, the Badia della
residence of the marquises of Santissima Annunziata and
Sant’Alfano, an old and powerful Santa Maria del Gesù are well
family of the Norman aristocracy. worth a longer look.
Once past the
elegant Baroque
façade you enter a
court yard where two
sphinxes flank the
The convex façade of San Domenico, stairway leading to
designed by Gagliardi the main floor and
frescoed rooms.
P Palazzo Nicolaci
Villadorata R Chiesa del
Open 10am–1pm, 3pm–1 hr before S.S. Crocefisso
sun set. & ∑ palazzonicolaci.it Tel 0931-891 622.
On Via Nicolaci is Palazzo Nicolaci In the heart of Noto
del Principe di Villadorata. The Alta, at the end of a
façade has six balconies stairway that begins
supported by corbels which at Piazza Mazzini, is
are decorated – in keeping this church, built at
with the pure Baroque style – the end of the street The unfinished façade of Chiesa del Crocefisso in Noto Alta

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