Rosario Gagliardi, the Architect of Post-Earthquake Reconstruction
History and curiosities of the churches of Rosario Gagliardi in Ragusa
Church Of Santa Maria Maggiore (18th century) by Rosario GagliardiUnione Nazionale Pro Loco d'Italia di Ragusa
Rosario Gagliardi is considered one of the undisputed protagonists of the Baroque reconstruction following the terrible earthquake that shook eastern Sicily in 1693.
The Cathedral of San Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla
The church of San Giorgio is located in the heart of the historic city. It stands not only as the symbolic monument of the city but also as a masterpiece of Sicilian late Baroque architecture.
Il Duomo di San Giorgio a Ragusa Ibla
The project was entrusted to Gagliardi in 1738. Of the six statues in the drawing, four are made: St. George and St. James in the first order, St. Paul and St. Peter in the second.
The Cathedral Of San Giorgio - Interior (1739) by Rosario GagliardiUnione Nazionale Pro Loco d'Italia di Ragusa
The shipyard did not see interruptions until the 80s, with a synergistic commitment between designer and workers, qualifying the limestone and black stone of Ragusa both on the façade and in its interior.
Inside, the church houses remarkable works, among which we find the canvas of San Giorgio and the Dragon by Dario Querci and the Reliquary Urn of neoclassical architectural style by Salvatore La Villa.
The museum
In 2009, it was built a museum nearby the church. The museum offers a collection of sacred objects and shows the history of Ragusa in the last centuries.
The Museum Of San Giorgio’S Cathedral - Foreground (2009)Unione Nazionale Pro Loco d'Italia di Ragusa
Inside there is the documentary section that exhibits the original projects of the Duomo made by Rosario Gagliardi, showing how the church was built in harmony with the project.
Santa Maria Maggiore Church in Ispica
The Basilica is one of the main late Baroque and Rococo culture proof of south-eastern Sicily.
Church Of Santa Maria Maggiore - Christ At The Column (18th century) by unknownUnione Nazionale Pro Loco d'Italia di Ragusa
The Christ at the column
The church was built after the 1693's earthquake and in order to preserve the simulacrum of Christ to the column that had been saved in the ancient church of S. Maria della Cava, a church located in the valley of Cava d'Ispica.
The simulacrum represents Christ in the moment of the scourging. Over the centuries, many restorations have been made and it is difficult to determine the dating. It would appear that the torso and head are from the late medieval period.
In 1908, the church was proclaimed a National Monument for the presence of frescoes made by the Catanese painter Olivio Sozzi.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Stelle in Comiso
After the earthquake of 1693 the church was rebuilt inspired by the drawings that Rosario Gagliardi left to the parish, which still preserves them today.
Church of Santa Maria delle Stelle (1694 - 1699) by unknownUnione Nazionale Pro Loco d'Italia di Ragusa
The church was rebuilt in 1699. Of the original construction remain the pillars and the sixth pointed of the central nave. The dome, of neo-Gothic style, was completed in 1894, while the façade and the bell tower were completed only in 1936.
The craftsmens of Comiso refined their art by working on the reconstruction of the Matrix. The precious wooden ceiling is the work of Antonio Iberti from Messina.
