Chiesa di Santa Chiara, Noto

In the southeast corner of Piazza del Duomo is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, better known as Santa Chiara. This is the creation of the outstanding master of the Sicilian Baroque, architect from Syracuse Rosario Gagliardi (Rosario Gagliardi). The church was built from 1730 to 1758 for the monastery of the Benedictine sisters, which adjoins the church from the east, now it houses the city Museum of Noto (Museo Civico). The facade of the church faces the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, but in the 19th century the street level was significantly lowered, and the portal turned out to be more than two meters above the pavement. It was impossible to build a staircase on a narrow street, so the main entrance was moved to the side facade. Of greatest interest is the interior of the church, which is considered one of the most beautiful in Sicily. The only nave has an elliptical shape, it is surrounded by 12 columns, on the tops of which there are statues of the apostles. The walls between the columns are decorated with magnificent frescoes and elegant stucco decorations. In addition to the nave, several rooms in the upper tiers of the building are accessible to visitors. And finally, you can climb to the flat roof of the church, which offers a circular view of Noto and the surrounding area.

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