The baroque
During the night of 11th January 1693, a terrible earthquake
hit the area of Val di Noto, causing thousands of victims and completely razing cities and beautiful monuments.
The rebuilding after the tragic event gave to south-eastern Sicily the amazing homogeneous baroque appearance for which it became famous all over the world. The province of Ragusa is therefore mostly known for the baroque wonders that one can admire in some places, such as the charming Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto and Scicli. These sites, together with other ones in the South-East of Sicily, have been officially inserted in 2002 in the UNESCO World Heritage list, giving the due recognition to the excellence of their artistic and architectural heritage.
The charme of churches and monuments with their scenic and rich appearance, that is typical of the Baroque style, makes these little sites beautiful like "jewels".
One can really appreciate them walking by night, when the plays of light create amazing contrasts on their walls.