Located in the Val di Noto Valley, the town of Noto is one of eight towns in the valley, next to Ragusa, Modica, Catania, Scicli, Caltagirone, Palazzo Acreide and Militello Vak di Catania.

The so-called pearl of Sicilian Baroque with its townhouses in the city built of yellow-colored stone, which adds to the charm and coherence of this place. The center of Noto is the long street Corso Vittorio Emmanuele with incredibly interesting buildings on both sides of the street and numerous cafes, restaurants and charming souvenir stores.

While in Noto, in addition to visiting the main monuments, it is also worth to stroll through the smaller streets, drop in for an afternoon coffee at a cafe or enjoy a delicious granita to cool off on a hot day. Visit interesting churches, beautiful theaters, go on a little shopping spree, and don’t forget to admire Noto from above, from one of the city’s churches roofs.

In this article you will learn about 7 places worth visiting in the amazing Noto.

Although it is not the best known or the largest town in Sicily, it is definitely one of the most unique and definitely worth a visit. Noto enchants with its charm and simplicity from the main street Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, where you can marvel at all the beautiful buildings. We loved Noto and are confident that it is a must-see, even if you only have half a day to spare.

#1 Chiesa Di San Domenico

Start your visit in Noto with Chiesa Di San Domenico, a magnificent church with a beautiful facade. The church is standing on Piazza XVI Maggio, and its interior is modestly decorated with beige walls covered with beautiful ornaments and nice and big altars in several places. The building is also a UNESCO Word Heritage Site. This is a perfect place to start your sightseeing in the beautiful city of Noto.

#2 Fontana D´Ercole & Teatro Comunale Tina Di Lorenzo

From the stairs of the Chiesa Di San Domenico, you will experience a wonderful view of the street and the surrounding buildings, as well as the Fontana D`Ercole and Teatro Comunale Tina Di Lorenzo.

The fountain Fontana D`Ercole was built in 1757 and is a tribute for the ancient past of the Siracusa area. It depicts Hercules sitting on a defeated lion. The fountain looks most beautiful in spring when it is full of water, surrounded by the green park full of vegetation.

The second monument seen from the elevation of the church is Tatro Comunale Tina di Lorenzo. The theater building looks beautiful from the outside, but it is its interior that deserves attention. Although the theater is rather small, it is beautifully maintained and richly decorated. Once inside, pay attention to the amazing lighting and beautiful ceiling.

Tickets to enter the theater can be purchased as a combination ticket for visiting it together with Palazzo Ducezio.

#3 St Charles Church

Another place you must visit while in Noto is St. Charles Church. Although the interior of the church is nothing extraordinary, all you need to see during your visit is on top of the building. Now you just need to climb several stairs located in a narrow staircase, and you will be able to enjoy the stunning views.

The views from the roof of the church are among those unforgettable. The city of Noto looks magnificent from above. At the highest level, in addition to beautiful views of the surrounding buildings and streets, you can also admire the huge bell.

Entrance tickets can be bought right at the entrance to the church, and for a single entry you’ll pay $2.70 (€2.50). You can also buy a combination ticket that entitles you to enter several buildings and rooftops in Noto.

#4 Cattedrale di San Nicolò

Certainly the most important and impressive building in Noto is the Cattedrale di San Nicolò. The building is huge, with a grand stairs leading to the entrance of the cathedral. Construction of the building began in the eighteenth century, and is built like all major buildings in the city in the Baroque style. The exterior of cathedral is built of traditional limestone of the area.

The interior is rather plain, but it is worth going inside at least for a moment to admire the beautiful frescoes. In 1990 during the earthquake the dome collapsed, and it took until 1997 to rebuild the cathedral, so its interior may seem a bit more modern.

Ticket to enter the cathedral costs $2.20 (€2) and you can buy it by the entrance.

#5 Palazzo Ducezio

Opposite the cathedral stands another grand building – Palazzo Duzezio. Construction of the palace began in the mid-18th century and was inspired by the style of French palaces. The interior is quite modestly decorated, although the Hall of Mirrors is nicely decorated.

The palace terrace, which you can step out onto during your visit, offers a beautiful view of the city, the cathedral Di San Nicolò and Noto’s streets – so don’t skip it!

You can buy single entrance ticket to the palace right at the entrance, or in a combine ticket with Teatro Comunale Tina di Lorenzo.

#6 Notos Stairs

Every year between May and June the city of Noto turns into an open-air gallery. Third Sunday of May, the city streets are covered with beautiful floral carpets. It is a celebration combining religion, folklore and the beauty of nature in spring.

This celebration encourages to visit the city not only Italians, but also tourists from all over the world. A continuation of this celebration are the beautiful paintings on the stairs in Noto, which stay painted all year around, but also change every year.

#7 “Zefir” & “This and That” Souvenir Shops

If you are looking for unique handmade souvenirs from Italy, be sure to visit the “Zefir Shop”. The charming owner will be happy to help you choose the perfect souvenirs for your loved ones. In search of magnets, postcards or other souvenirs, head to one of the most popular souvenir shops in Noto called “This and That”.

In addition to the typical Italian delicacies, there are several typical Sicilian dishes that you absolutely must try while in Noto (or Sicily). You’ll find them in many restaurants, cafes and even simple market stalls.

• Granita & Brioche
• Pasta alla Norma
• Cannoli
• Arancini
• Caponata
• Pistachio Croissants
• Pasta al Pistacchio

Our favorite breakfast was croissant with pistachio cream, snack was Caponata, lunch was Pasta alla Norma and dessert was Granita and Cannoli. Yummy!

By Airplane

Unfortunately there is no direct flight to Noto, but the fastest flight is to Catania and from there you can take a bus directly from the airport to Noto.

The bus ride takes another 1.5 hours.

By Train / Bus

You can travel around Sicily by train or bus, so if you choose this mode of transportation, you can easily get also to Noto. However, depending on where you are traveling from, you may have to change trains or buses twice and the trip can be quite long.

Car

Traveling to Noto by car is, in our opinion, one of the best forms of transportation. It allows you to see the city at your own pace, visit other places like Ragusa, and even take a road trip around Sicily.

Keep in mind, however, that Sicilians are not very good drivers, so you’ll need to keep your eyes on the road when driving around Sicily.

The main street in Noto and all its attractions are located quite close to each other, so Noto is perfect to explore on foot. We do not recommend entering the city by car, as vehicle access in Noto is limited, and the number of parking lots in the city is small.

Noto is a beautiful place to visit, especially in the warm months of European spring or summer, or even early fall, when the weather is still pleasant.

Although Sicily is an ideal holiday destination, it is better to visit it in the months between April, May and June or September, October and even early November, when the temperatures are not so extreme.

Summer months such as July and August are the hottest months in Sicily, so a visit to Noto can be somewhat unpleasant due to high temperatures.

In order to have easy access to all the above mentioned attractions, your best choice would be to book one of the hotels, B&Bs or Airbnb’s not far from the center of Noto. In the very centre  of Noto, rental prices can be much higher.

When looking for accommodation, consider the distance to the main street – Corso Vittorio Emmanuele and whether you can walk to it.

Noto, although charming, is a really small town, but definitely worth a visit, so don’t skip it when planning your trip to Sicily. However, one day is enough to fully enjoy this place, visit all the places mentioned above, have a coffee in one of the cafes or a delicious and refreshing granita.

Noto is also an ideal place for a day trip from bigger places like Catania. If you are short on time, a visit to Noto can be combined with a visit to Ragusa, in that case you will have half of the day in Noto, and half in Ragusa.

The prices are per person, except for the accommodation, which we rent for 2 people.

Accommodation: $100+ / night

Restaurant: $16 – $30 / meal

Pleasure: $11 – $18 / event

Rental car: $50+ / day

Activity:  $2+ / event