38. Noto A PERFECT BAROQUE TOWN

38. The Town of Noto. A Perfect Baroque town

Now I understand that some of you maybe a little "Baroqued out" but this should be the last Baroque town so please bare with me for the moment. 

Noto is an interesting town as it was mostly destroyed by the earthquake in 1693 when it was razed to the ground but then rebuilt with the lovely warm beige limestone which glows in the setting sun. So it is not a very very old town. It was built at much the same time as the latter Ragusa. It is a UNESCO site. But the main street is a little too commercialised now unlike our favourite town Ragusa Ibla, the old town. 

You enter the town through the giant Triumphal Arch.

 

The Piazza Municipio in the centre of Noto has the Cathedral on one side with the grand steps up to the front of the Cathedral and the town hall is directly opposite.  It is a magnificent setting. 

The Cathedral

Noto Town Hall

Side view of the Town Hall 

 But of course such beautiful surroundings lend themselves to special occasions.

Whether it is before 

or after the event

The town has a long history of Catholic Convents. The history of the Convents is quite interesting. The first Convent was flourishing but some nuns decided they wanted to be Benedictine nuns so they crossed the street to start their own Convent which also flourished. At one time there were Benedictine, Franciscan, Poor Clare and Jesuit nuns. They were kept isolated from the community by having their own area to hear Mass in the Church which had a grill on the choir through which they saw the Mass.  They also had an outdoor open-air recreational area on the roof of the convent which was also screened off from the sides.

                                                 

Two of the Convents built between one of the churches.   

Another view of one of the Convents showing an open air recreational area.

When the Bell tolls 

When the Bells toll

The Cathedral from a different angle

One of the Palazzo Houses in the Piazza Municipio

A cafe in a small Baroque house but on the right hand side is a poster.

The poster is advertising Cavalleria Rusticana. This poster depicts all the passions and emotions which the Italians express so well. 

Another beautiful baroque front facade for a Palazzo

A Baroque church in all it's glory basking in the evening sun

The art of conversation which the Italians are so good at. Unfortunately the men do not want to share the conversation with the elegant lady sitting nearby. 

Sometimes conversation is difficult or perhaps they don't like smoking.

A wonderful Baroque balcony

And now to the gargoyles whose task is to support the balcony for all time. They are not quite so interesting as those in Ragusa Ibla but you should zoom in on them to see the detail.

This photo shows some more interesting gargoyles particularly the one on the left. We can not make up our minds whether it is a face of a bearded man or the back of the head of someone embracing a man. The reason is the torso looks like it is the back of a person as you see the shoulder blades and the spine.  

The second last one shows five young women

This last five look quite happy.

You too can have a vineyard on your balcony!

I have happy memories of a Fiat 500 in Dublin having once borrowed one for a weekend away. I did not have a case of champagne on the back!

This gateway must have some stories to tell with the horse and carriages passing through its narrow portal. The width of the gateway would allow the old Fiat 500 to pass but certainly not a Porsche or Ferrari!

The decorative balconies of Baroque

More decorative balconies but on the corner a cherub and something with wings above but not sure if it is an angel!

In this photo the winged thing has flown away leaving only the cherub.

Street Art or advertising, whatever, it is quite innovative!

Goodbye Noto