Church of San Domenico

A place of worship that is a symbol of the city

A splendid example of late Baroque architecture in Noto, and also one of the main places of worship in the city: the Church of San Domenico in Noto is a marvel to be explored. Designed by the architect Rosario Gagliardi and overlooking Piazza XVI Maggio, the church was built between 1703 and 1727 as a convent church for the Dominican Fathers. Since 2002 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the site of the late Baroque City of Val di Noto.

Immediately recognisable thanks to the particular façade whose central part protrudes towards the street with a convex shape, it is considered one of the richest and most elaborate churches among those built by Gagliardi in Noto. A Greek cross with three naves and five domes richly decorated with stuccoes, its interior is a treasure chest: on the main altar you can admire a statue of the Madonna del Rosario and, in the left aisle, you will find a Crucifix and four marble stations with scenes of the Passion.

It also boasts numerous precious paintings, including the Madonna del Rosario by Vito d'Anna from the eighteenth century and those in which San Domenico receives the Holy Spirit, dating back to the eighteenth century. An obligatory stop to discover Noto.