Noto
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 26 September 2023
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The town of Noto is one of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily), inscribed since 2002 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a population of just under twenty five thousand people and is located within the province of Syracuse.
A hill town standing at an elevation of 152 metres Noto is famed for its many churches, the highlight of which is the 18th century Cathedral built in the Sicilian Baroque style and using the local Iblean limestone. The stone is used for many of Noto's buildings, giving it such a glow that it appears as a city of gold. |
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For any serious itinerary of Sicily, a visit to Noto is an absolute must. It's situated seven kilometres inland of the coast in the south-eastern corner of the island, a half an hour drive south of the provincial capital: Syracuse. Arriving by car, there are a good number of parking options including a car park just at the edge of the city, a three minute walk from the centre. If you arrive at lunch time (between 13:00 and 16:00) you'll find street parking available on Via Cavour which lies parallel to and above the main street: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Just bear in mind, at that time of day you're likely to find many of the churches closed.
The Noto that we see today was built in the wake of the 1693 earthquake that destroyed much of the local area, including the original town, which is now called Noto Antica; worth a visit in its own right and located 15 kilometres north west of the "new Noto". The reconstruction of Noto using the prevailing Baroque architecture of the time is what earned the city its UNESCO listing, along with seven other Sicilian towns and cities: Catania, Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Ragusa, Modica, Palazzolo Acreide and Scicli.
A good starting point for a walk around of Noto is the monumental gate at the eastern end of the town called the Porta Reale. From there, walking west along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, you can start to feel the glow of Noto's incredible buildings with the Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi one of the first that comes into view on the right hand side of the street. A few minutes later you arrive at the centrepiece of the city where the grand staircase leads up to the magnificent Noto Cathedral on the right. Opposite the Cathedral, the Palazzo Ducezio is now the town hall but you can enter for a fee of €4 and enjoy, among other things, the Hall of Mirrors.
As you continue along the main thoroughfare, it becomes apparent that Noto has very much been planned and constructed with a lot of forethought. Aside from the dozens of churches, there are all the facilities that a modern, prosperous city of the time would need including a theatre, the Teatro Comunale, and plenty of public spaces such as little piazzas with gardens. One of the prettiest squares lies just in front of the theatre where there's an attractive garden, the centrepiece of which is the Fontana d'Ercole. Standing imperiously above the fountain and garden is another incredible Baroque church, the Chiesa di San Domenico.
Most of the sights are situated along the Corso and there are also plenty of places to stop for refreshment with some excellent restaurants, gelaterias and snack bars. If you're planning an overnight stay then it's worth knowing that the city is quite beautiful at night with its mood-lighting, and there are also a good number of shops and other facilities available. In terms of accommodation I can recommend the Gagliardi Boutique Hotel that you'll find a link for a little further down the page.
If you're considering a shorter stop in Noto then there are plenty of other places nearby to combine your visit with. One of the other UNESCO towns, Palazzolo Acreide is a 35 minute drive away, passing Noto Antica along the way. That would mean heading inland, while in the opposite direction, towards the coast are some of Sicily's best beach resorts including Calamosche, Fontane Bianche and Marzamemi while slightly further afield and again unmissable, is the city of Syracuse.
Without a car you're more restricted but there are buses that run to and from Syracuse with a journey time of just under an hour. Noto's train station is a 17 minute walk (1 km) from the town centre with trains connecting to Syracuse (35 minutes) and Ragusa (1 hour 40 minutes). During the summer months there's also a scenic train service available in the region, connecting the other Baroque towns of the Val di Noto and offering a hop-on/hop-off service. Timetables vary and are published at the beginning of the summer tourism season.
The Noto that we see today was built in the wake of the 1693 earthquake that destroyed much of the local area, including the original town, which is now called Noto Antica; worth a visit in its own right and located 15 kilometres north west of the "new Noto". The reconstruction of Noto using the prevailing Baroque architecture of the time is what earned the city its UNESCO listing, along with seven other Sicilian towns and cities: Catania, Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Ragusa, Modica, Palazzolo Acreide and Scicli.
A good starting point for a walk around of Noto is the monumental gate at the eastern end of the town called the Porta Reale. From there, walking west along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, you can start to feel the glow of Noto's incredible buildings with the Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi one of the first that comes into view on the right hand side of the street. A few minutes later you arrive at the centrepiece of the city where the grand staircase leads up to the magnificent Noto Cathedral on the right. Opposite the Cathedral, the Palazzo Ducezio is now the town hall but you can enter for a fee of €4 and enjoy, among other things, the Hall of Mirrors.
As you continue along the main thoroughfare, it becomes apparent that Noto has very much been planned and constructed with a lot of forethought. Aside from the dozens of churches, there are all the facilities that a modern, prosperous city of the time would need including a theatre, the Teatro Comunale, and plenty of public spaces such as little piazzas with gardens. One of the prettiest squares lies just in front of the theatre where there's an attractive garden, the centrepiece of which is the Fontana d'Ercole. Standing imperiously above the fountain and garden is another incredible Baroque church, the Chiesa di San Domenico.
Most of the sights are situated along the Corso and there are also plenty of places to stop for refreshment with some excellent restaurants, gelaterias and snack bars. If you're planning an overnight stay then it's worth knowing that the city is quite beautiful at night with its mood-lighting, and there are also a good number of shops and other facilities available. In terms of accommodation I can recommend the Gagliardi Boutique Hotel that you'll find a link for a little further down the page.
If you're considering a shorter stop in Noto then there are plenty of other places nearby to combine your visit with. One of the other UNESCO towns, Palazzolo Acreide is a 35 minute drive away, passing Noto Antica along the way. That would mean heading inland, while in the opposite direction, towards the coast are some of Sicily's best beach resorts including Calamosche, Fontane Bianche and Marzamemi while slightly further afield and again unmissable, is the city of Syracuse.
Without a car you're more restricted but there are buses that run to and from Syracuse with a journey time of just under an hour. Noto's train station is a 17 minute walk (1 km) from the town centre with trains connecting to Syracuse (35 minutes) and Ragusa (1 hour 40 minutes). During the summer months there's also a scenic train service available in the region, connecting the other Baroque towns of the Val di Noto and offering a hop-on/hop-off service. Timetables vary and are published at the beginning of the summer tourism season.
Comune di Noto
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Province: Syracuse
Region: Sicily Population: 23,905 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 551 km² Elevation: 152 metres Highlights: Noto Cathedral, Palazzo Ducezio, Teatro Comunale UNESCO listing: 2002 |
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Recommended accommodation: Gagliardi Boutique Hotel
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UNESCO World Heritage Site
Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
Year: 2002
Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
Year: 2002
