Immerse yourself in this guide to find out what to see in Noto, the city defined as the “pearl of Sicilian Baroque”.
Although during a trip to Eastern Sicily, the baroque style of the buildings is the host, when you arrive in Noto this term will acquire a completely different flavor. Enter Corso Vittorio Emanuele, enjoying a pistachio ice cream and discovering the history of the great palaces and churches with peach-colored walls and set off to discover a small town that “hides” one of the most beautiful historic centers in all of Sicily. If you want to know what to see and do in Noto in 1 day, take a look at this walking itinerary!
What to see in Noto in 1 day:
- Royal Gate
- Monastery of the S.S. and church of San Francesco d’Assisi
- Cathedral Basilica of San Nicolò
- Palazzo Ducezio
- Town Hall Square
- Infiorata of Noto
- Church of San Domenico
- Tina Di Lorenzo Theater
- How to reach Noto
- Where to eat in Noto
To fully understand what the things to see in this beautiful town are, you need to know that it is a relatively young place.
Noto was razed to the ground by the earthquake of 1693 (like much of Eastern Sicily). In this very hard phase of the history of the city, a piece of history has been erased (as well as unfortunately an estimated half of the population): Noto, in fact, had passed from the hands of the Romans, Muslims and Normans, who probably left a sign of their passage.
With the earthquake (and subsequent tsunami) of 1693, everything was canceled in a few moments. At the time the city was almost completely rebuilt also and above all thanks to the architect Rosario Gagliardi, who also gave the style to many churches in Modica and Ragusa. Here the buildings are made of a very particular local limestone: sometimes white and sometimes golden.
Noto takes on quite different colors throughout the day, so any time is good enough to set off on this itinerary on foot. But one thing is certain: when the sun goes down, the buildings glow with an intense orange, so if you really had the choice, the late afternoon would undoubtedly be the perfect time to discover what Noto has to offer!
If you prefer you can reserve your seat for a guided walking tour of the city.
1 – Porta Reale
Entering the historic center of Noto from the Porta Reale is the best way to be welcomed with all the trimmings in this town. After crossing a tree-lined avenue you cannot fail to notice the finely decorated Royal Gate. This will make you immediately understand the style and color that characterizes Noto. Once through the door, you will be exactly in the main street: Corso Vittorio Emanuele. In fact, it is here that all the things to see in Noto branch off!
2 – Monastero del S.S. e chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi
Not far from the Royal Gate, on the right you will notice a recently restored building. I suggest you climb the staircase that precedes it and enter the basilica: here you can admire the church with one of the most beautiful interiors in Noto, full of frescoes and decorations. From the bell tower of the monastery next to it, you can enjoy a wide view of the town.
3 – Basilica Cattedrale di San Nicolò
Walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele you will see many palaces and churches, but when you arrive in front of the Cathedral of Noto, you will not have the slightest doubt that you are in the right place. The warm colors of its walls, the wide staircase that precedes it and its dominant position, will certainly not go unnoticed in front of your eyes. The thing to emphasize, however, is that once you reach the top of the staircase and have crossed the entrance to the Cathedral, you may be a little disappointed by its interior. Unfortunately, what you can admire today are the reconstruction works completed in 2007, after a collapse of the dome, due to errors in its construction, caused the entire building to collapse in 1996. Nevertheless, the cathedral remains the undisputed symbol of Noto.
4 – Palazzo Ducezio
You can admire the Palazzo Ducezio by crossing the exit from the Cathedral. This structure, in fact, is located right in front of the Basilica of San Nicolò. Its interior is the seat of the town hall, but it is also possible to enter to visit the Hall of Mirrors (tickets can be purchased on the spot). In this way you can also access the panoramic terrace which will give you one of the best views of the Cathedral of Noto.
5 – Piazza del Municipio
Located halfway along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the Piazza del Municipio is not called so by chance: it is exactly in the place where the Cathedral and Palazzo Ducezio are located, but also Palazzo Landolina and, not far away, one of the best pastry shops in the city: Costanzo coffee. Here you can taste the best ice cream in the city, typical sweets, such as cassate and cannoli and continue your walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele with a nice (and good) reward in your hands.
6 – Infiorata di Noto
A few streets ahead, you can admire the street which is (literally) carpeted with incredible works made simply with the use of flowers. You can also find the location of the infiorata on Google Maps (get directions here), but remember that this festival takes place annually for only 3 days in May. I suggest you visit the official website to find out the exact dates. If you are planning a visit to the city, the infiorata is certainly one of the best things to see in Noto, but you have to be there at the right time.
7 – Chiesa di San Domenico
This church, preceded by a small but very pleasant garden, is considered one of the most refined Baroque buildings in the city. It is located right in front of the tourist office, so you could start your tour comfortably from here too.
8 – Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo
