centro storico di noto

Noto from start to finish is truly magnificent, everywhere you walk you are surrounded by beautiful baroque building, churches, shops, town halls and many more. The streets are lined with carved balconies glowing white in the sun !!Climb to the top of Chiesa & Convento for great views over Noto.

This main square is without a shadow of a doubt, my absolute pick for the most beautiful in Italy, by day and by spectacular night's illumination. Its characterised by the elegant cathedral of San Nicolo, with its impressive stairway, and by the Palazzo Ducezio, now the seat of the municipality. But the square is only one cog in a city that has an urban setup which is orderly, geometric and showcases the stone work of lava that makes this town extraordinary. We found it easy to amble through to get to the monuments and noble residences which are anchored by large squares like the Duomo and the Mercato. We skipped like delighted infants revelling in the long arteries like Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the Via Cavour with its sirens, winged horses, monstrous masks and grotesque figurines that spring from the facades of palazzos and churches. It reeks beautifully of ancient. Even those irreligious amongst us cannot be under-whelmed by the sheer beauty in gems like the church of San Domenico,distinguished by a convex facade that imposes its colonnade onto the square, and the San Giorgio church which has without a doubt the most beautiful late-baroque facades in all of Europe. Whilst here i would recommend a visit to Mt Alveria, the archeological park of the ancient settlement of Noto. Its 14 km inland and presents a section of the city walls with one of its gateways and a ruin of a castle, Greek gymnasium, necropolis with sepulchers dating back to the 9th-century. Some of the finds from this site can be viewed at the Civic Museum of Noto, located in the convent of the Santissimo Salvatore.

We went to Noto from Siracuse by train (€6.90 return). It is a small town but has an almost disproportionate amount of wonderful baroque buildings. Devastated in the 1693 earthquake it was rebuilt in the baroque style of the day and is now a feast for the eyes. We went to the top of one of the church towers which had a wonderful view of the town and the distant sea.An unmissable destination in this part of Sicily.

During your walk through the historic district, you will find beautiful ivory-colored, cleaned-up and well-lighted buildings to admire. Clean town, appears very well cared-for; the historic official and church building and spectacular and perfect for picture-taking!

We were recommended by some Sicilian friends to visit Noto, and I am glad we did. It offers a great selection of nice monumental buildings, and it is pleasant to stroll around in the streets of this nice little town.It is quite touristy, but then again, most of Sicily is....

Having visited Modica, Ragusa Ibla and Scicli, Noto was the last of the Baroque cities we visited. Having seen photos and articles on TV I was waiting to be amazed. First disappointment - a scruffy railway station. Luckily it is well away from the Centro Istorico, but unluckily it was quite a steep walk.There are some lovely buildings in Noto - the Duomo and the church next door, and the Municipio. We looked for Cafe Siciliano apparently the maker of the best gelati - it was closed - tourist season over - in early October? We found somewhere for a drink and then thought we would look around a bit more. Everything seemed to be closing for the afternoon. So we trudged wearily back down the steep hill to the station.Disappointing yes, but if we went again we would consider an overnight stay.Can't beat Scicli!!!!!

I went to Noto as a day trip excursion from Catania..we spent a few hours there.I really liked it..the whole look of the Baroque buildings etc..I loved taking photos of the building,churches and such.To me it is worth a visit! Not all day but as a half day excursion or even for a few hours..

Noto's historic center is one of the treasures of Sicily. Primarily a three-block stretch of gorgeous 18th Century Baroque churches, palazzos and public buildings, it almost glows from the golden stone that virtually all of it is comprised of. The Spanish are responsible for the remarkable harmony and beauty that has survived the centuries. Lots of places to sit and take in the architecture. Plenty of restaurants and gelaterias. We were there in mid-October with perfect fall weather--a dark blue sky backing the gold of the skyline. Shouldn't be missed if you're visiting the island--only about 15 miles out of Siracusa.

My wife & I were part of a walking tour of central Noto on a HOT Tuesday 8/26. The relentless sun, heat, & limited shade may have influenced our opinions....Wikipedia: "Noto is famous for its fine buildings of the early 18th century, considered among the main masterpieces in the Sicilian baroque style." The gateway arch at the town's entrance & the main cathedral are particularly attractive (see photos). However, with limited time, I'd suggest you skip the bus trip to get there & spend your time in Syracusa's Old Town.

We found a great free place to park. You need to follow signs for Centro Storico. You will turn at a small roundabout. Follow that road up and look for a sign on the left with the blue parking P and a circle bullseye/target like sign and Centro Storio 250m. Take that turn. You see some new apartments and a not finished multi storey. You can park for free in that road. Look for some stone steps. They take you up past a B&B to a tree lined road. Turn left and you are in a park with a few market stalls. The Arch into the old town is through there on the left. Less than 10 minute pleseant walk.

This hilltop centre is well worth a visit to see the many beautiful buildings. Most of them are found in a smal area. There are view to the coast and plenty of cafes

Noto is yet another town destroyed in the 1693 earthquake. The architecture in the central part of the old town is beautiful, especially along the Corso V. Emanuele, and up side roads like Via Nicolaci and Via R. Pirri. Churches such as St. Francis and the Cathedral are sadly unspectacular on the inside, however.You can't enter the old town with a car, and parking is a nightmare. Possible, with a lot of luck, along V. le Marconi or up past the Stadio Comunale.There are some reasonable restaurants within the old town, but have a good look at the prices before you commit yourself.

The shops are open till 10 or 11 o'clock. You can have a nice walk, enjoying the monuments and the beautiful atmosphere of a traditional sicilian town and buy some presents in the same time. The street is surrounded by many restaurants and bars. It is a very interesting place to visit during a shor trip in Sicily.

Massively over-rated. A one street town, the one street jam packed with thousands of tourists. Modica and Ortygia so much better for people who want to experience the best of this corner of Sicily

The heart of old Noto is truly stunning and very worth a visit. The town seems to be remarkably lack lustre in terms of its cafe and restaurant culture though - unless we missed something. Excellent day out, but it's perhaps thinking of having somewhere like Modica or Ragusa to return to in the evening for an evening out.