Cathedral of San Nicolò - Noto, Sicily - Baroque Towers and Dome Above the Trees

The golden façade, twin towers and dome of the Cathedral of San Nicolò rising above leafy trees in the historic centre of Noto, Sicily.

This photograph shows the Cathedral of San Nicolò in Noto, Sicily, rising prominently above a dense line of green trees beneath a dramatic blue and cloud-filled sky. Viewed from an angle rather than directly from Piazza Municipio, the composition clearly reveals the cathedral's richly articulated golden limestone façade, its two flanking towers and the large dome behind them. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, the cathedral is one of the principal landmarks of Noto and an important expression of the city's remarkable architectural reconstruction following the devastating earthquake of 1693. Its façade combines late Baroque and classical elements, with Corinthian columns on the lower level and the bell and clock towers framing the upper section. The cathedral's history has included several major structural interventions. Its dome collapsed in 1848 and was subsequently rebuilt, while a more extensive collapse on 13 March 1996 destroyed the central and right naves. Following a major reconstruction and restoration project, the cathedral reopened in June 2007 and today again dominates Noto's historic Piazza Municipio.