Giovanni Battista Landolina

Giovanni Battista Landolina, "Marchese di S. Alfano", was a Sicilian landowner and intellectual instrumental in having the city of Noto removed from its former site on Mount Alveria to a more level location following the earthquake in 1693 centred on the Val di Noto.

Ultimate responsibility for the re-building of Sicily at this time was however in the hands of the Spanish viceroy, Duke of Camastra; but Landolina successfully argued his case for the rebuilding to be some 10 km.

It is based on three parallel streets, interconnected by a series of narrower streets at right angles, thus producing a grid pattern, providing vistas to the three piazzas, each with their own church, the largest having a cathedral.

Later the architects Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, and Rosario Gagliardi designed many buildings in the city.

Today, Noto is a great tourist attraction owing to the many examples of Sicilian Baroque built during Landolina's time as town planner.