Noto Sicily

As the grand result of a creative century Noto combines baroque monumental buildings with classical standards of the early 18th century in a harmonic way.
The soft limestone, which adorns churches and palaces, has been preserved in the transition of one contradictory century to another one: the 17th century when Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake and the century of enlightenment.

The light of the sunset plays with the domes and depressions in the facade of Montevergini’s church, while the mysterious puttos with their honey-coloured faces watch the visitors from the broad consoles of Palazzo Villadorata. The baroque order which dominates the Città d’oro moves the numerous visitors, who are fascinated by the seductive beauty of the rock garden.
This is what the art historian Cesare Brandi loved saying about Noto.

The spectacle takes place along the main road, where most of the most important buildings and monuments can be found, and continues, on a more elegant scale, in Via Cavour, where the magnificent manor houses are located.
Noto spreads the scent of its extraordinary beauty throughout the year in never fading reminiscences of its ancient and forgotten glory.

The highlight is reached every May when, on the occasion of the festival Infiorata, the whole of Via Nicolaci is filled with the soft colours of flowers.
The extensive surrounding countryside, the natural reserves Vendicari and Cala Mosche, the impressive and dilapidated farms, found in the villages further inland, but also the splendid mosaics of the Villa of Tellaro are also part of Noto.