Overview
The pearl of Sicilian Baroque
Noto is world-famous for its dramatic, opulent and bold Baroque architecture. This small town in eastern Sicily, historically dominated by Romans, Arabs and Normans, was destroyed by the 1693 earthquake and rebuilt following 17th-century stylistic canons.
The city is easily accessible on foot. You can enter the historic centre from the Porta Reale, to explore the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, Noto Cathedral, Palazzo Ducezio and Piazza del Municipio. For fantastic views, we recommend climbing up to the terraces of the Monastery of Saint Clare. Noto also boasts spectacular street art: prepare to be stunned by the three staircases of Via Cavour, decorated by artist Carlo Coniglio for the “Scale in Fiore” (Stairs in Bloom) project.
Spring is the best time to visit Noto: every year, the third Sunday in May is dedicated to the Infiorata, during which Via Corrado Nicolaci is literally carpeted with decorations of flowers.
If you are near the city in summer, the best way to enjoy the sea without travelling too far afield is to visit the seaside hamlet of Lido di Noto, just 5 kilometres away from the town of the same name, popular among locals and tourists alike. For an even more authentic experience, you can stop by the Vendicari Nature Reserve wildlife oasis.
96017 Noto, Province of Syracuse, Italy
