Earthshine Moon Above the Cathedral of Noto

A photo composite of multiple exposures. From the photographer: “Like many towns that in 1693 were destroyed by the earthquake that hit the County of Noto, the city of the same name was rebuilt from scratch. The architects and artists of the time applied themselves by creating real architectural jewels using the Sicilian Baroque style.

Since the towns were rebuilt from scratch, no other architectural style contaminated the palaces and works of art of these places which over time became a real treasure chest of beauty; an excellent testimony of the art of the seventeenth century. Their uniqueness earned these cities, and Noto in particular, the recognition of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. There are many elements of interest and among them certainly its beautiful cathedral stands out. Dedicated to San Nicolò, it was built starting from 1694 to be completed in 1703. Its imposing dome and facade adorned with two side towers and an imposing staircase stand out. Unfortunately the city was again wounded by another earthquake in 1990 which caused, together with some construction errors, the collapse of the imposing dome and part of the naves (1996). The beauty of the cathedral was restored after a decade during which it was restored and made available to the public again. If you think you have already seen these architectures, then you are not wrong. The cathedral, and other buildings, were the set of the recent film Cyrano, starring among others by the excellent Peter Dynklage. This image shows the beauty of the cathedral magnified by a splendid sickle moon, whose hidden face is illuminated by the light reflected from the Earth. In it it is possible to see the details of its seas and impact craters but also the difference in the composition of the land through the chromatic differences of its surface. Small stars adorn the sky around the moon, witnessing the beauty of a place that, for good reason, stands as a World Heritage Site.”

Technical details: Canon 6d, Sigma 150 – 600mm @600mm

Landscape: iso 200, f/8, from 5 to 1.3 sec.

Moon: tracked from the reference position by Fornax Mount Lighttrack II, 15 sec, iso 200, f/8, stack of 25 shots.