UNESCO World Heritage listed Noto in the southeast of Sicily captivates you with its magnificent Baroque buildings.
Completely destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1693, Noto was rebuilt in the style of the Sicilian Baroque and leaves visitors from all over the world awe-inspired.
UNESCO World Heritage listed Noto in the southeast of Sicily captivates you with its magnificent Baroque buildings.
Completely destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1693, Noto was rebuilt in the style of the Sicilian Baroque and leaves visitors from all over the world awe-inspired.
Noto, in the southeast of Sicily, carries its title of "Sicily's most beautiful Baroque town" rightly so and with dignity. An amazing splendor of Baroque buildings fascinates visitors to this place in the southern foothills of Monte Iblei and southwest of Syracuse.
After the old town of Noto – "Noto Antica" – had been destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1693, the town was rebuilt in the style of the Sicilian Baroque, which was prevalent at those times. The ruins of Noto Antica are found about 10 km northwest of today’s Noto.
The overwhelming splendor of the rebuilt town as well as the interplay of elaborate details and sophisticated perspectives makes you think of and compare Noto with an opulent stage setting.
The UNESCO too became aware of the beauty of Noto, which was then among the late Baroque towns of Val di Noto declared World Heritage Site in 2002.
The completely restored cathedral of SS. Nicolò di Mira e Corrado is one of the town’s main sights. In 2007, the cathedral's cupola, which had collapsed in 1996 due to heavy rains, was reopened. Should you be interested in culture, you have got quite a number of churches and palaces to visit at Noto.
What is probably most fascinating is the townscape as a whole, the harmony of the various buildings, alleys and squares.
At Lido di Noto (ca. 6.5 km off) and Calabernardo (ca. 8 km off) you can take a sunbath, go for a swim or simply take it easy at wide sandy beaches.
Also nearby lies idyllic nature reserve Oasi Vendicari, which is considered a paradise for birds. Besides a multitude of migratory birds, e.g. flamingos, storks and cormorants, you get to watch terrapins, too. The unspoilt nature of the reserve with its extremely beautiful sandy beaches can be explored along various hiking trails.
Every year there is a new edition of the "Guida Blu", which is sponsored and edited by the Italian environmental organization Legambiente and the Touring Club Italiano. Mention in this travel guide of environmentally responsible holiday resorts is accorded to those places which combine excellent service for their guests with respect for their environment in an active way.
Preconditions for being mentioned include not only clean beaches and water quality, but also waste management, air quality, esteem for historic town centers, promotion of regional produce as well as local gastronomy and, finally, responsible land-use planning.
On the island of Sicily, the town of Noto has also been among those with best results. A list of all the places commended is found on the website of Legambiente where you can also order the "Guida Blu" online.
