The capital of Sicilian Baroque: golden limestone architecture and a historic centre rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake.
Destroyed by the violent Val di Noto earthquake of 1693, Noto was entirely rebuilt further downhill in late Baroque style, with a unified urban plan that today makes it one of the most coherent and dramatic examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. Since 2002 it has been, along with other towns in Val di Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the town's main axis: here stands the Cathedral of San Nicolò, with its imposing staircase, and noble palaces such as Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, famous for its balconies decorated with grotesque and mythological figures.
The local limestone, which takes on golden tones in the sunset light, is Noto's defining feature and the reason the town is often called "the stone garden of Baroque". In late February or early March, the almond blossoms in the surrounding countryside add another reason to visit.
Noto is also a food destination: almond granita, almond-paste pastries, and local wines (such as Nero d'Avola) are worth a stop, perhaps paired with a walk to the beaches of the nearby Vendicari Nature Reserve.
Noto is 1h 20min from the airport. You can arrange your transfer with a private transfer, car rental, or the scheduled connections listed in our guide to getting around Eastern Sicily.
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