Italy Dreams

Tag: Noto

  • Here’s What It’s Like to Visit Noto, Sicily–in Pictures

    Outside of City Hall in Noto, SIcily. Notice the European Union, Italy, and Sicily flags.

    If you’re traveling to eastern Sicily in Italy and plan to visit Noto, we’ve got you covered.

    You can find our detailed Noto, Sicily, article here.

    If you want to get a better idea of what Noto looks like as you plan your trip–or, you just want a virtual tour of Noto–read on!

    This article tells a story of a journey around Noto in pictures.

    I share some of my favorite pics during a week-long stay in beautiful Noto, famous for its Baroque architecture and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The visit was in late February, so it was off-season. Hence, you don’t see a ton of people in the pictures.

    You can find more details about my trek through southeastern Sicily here. That article also shares some good tips for your eastern Sicily travels.

    Noto was a great “basecamp” town to stay in and southeastern Sicily. However, you also can find great B&Bs/hotels to stay in Ortigia, near San Lorenzo Beach/Marzamemi, Modica, Ragusa, and other areas.

    The fun pics and captions below share some more background to help you plan your trip. Andiamo/let’s go!

    Here is Noto’s most famous site, its Cattedrale di San Nicolo, or Noto Cathedral. It was completed in the early 1700s, but its dome collapsed and was replaced in the mid-1990s. The cathedral has appeared in various movies and TV shows, including “White Lotus.” You’ll find a lot of activity around this centerpiece tourist site of downtown Noto. It’s beautiful on the inside as well.
    Yum, here are the arincini, or rice balls ordered at MammArincina in Noto’s small downtown area. Rice balls are filled with all types of ingredients, including rice (of course), cheese, meats, and sauces. You don’t have to limit yourself to their restaurant to try arincini. It’s a Sicilian specialty so they’re pretty common.
    “Un cornetto e un espresso, per favore.” Restaurant ordering gave me a chance to practice my beginning Italian. I did good with this phrase for my croissaint and espresso order at Mangiafico in Noto although I didn’t know the word for “vanilla cream.” It was interesting to get there as it first opened, sit and eat breakfast, and watch some locals trickle in. A few noticed that I was not a local!
    Look at the cool lighting on the Royal Gate (Porta Reale) in downtown Noto. In the evening, locals like to have a passaggiata, or walk, in the downtown area. If it’s in-season, you’ll surely find a lot more tourists doing the same. You can also shop at souvenir stores and people watch while you stroll around the downtown.
    Noto has a mercatino, or outdoor market, on Sunday and Wednesday. I was thrilled when my B&B host at Cuore Barocco took me there to pick up some local cheese, and I returned that Wednesday for some Sicilian cookies and more cheese. Make sure to also ask any locals you meet for grocery store and bakery (panificio) recommendations. Cheap, fresh bread always makes things better.
    A random cat from my Noto stay. I have so many cat pics from my Sicily trip; they should become their own separate article!
    Holding a chocolate chip cannolo from Cannoliamo in downtown Noto. Sicily is the birthplace of cannoli so you must try one! They are calorie-free while you’re in Sicily!
    Every May, Noto has a flower festival called Infiorata. Here’s a staircase with some art that remained after the festival.
    One view of the streets of Noto. Make sure to wander around to different streets to look for good photo angles. For some reason, the sidewalk looks wider here than usual. The sidewalks were quite narrow, so walk carefully, look out for cars zipping by, and monitor your children if traveling with them. Also, be careful driving. I was fortunate to have a parking space that was not right on the street for my rental car (ask your B&B host if there’s anywhere nearby where you can park comfortably). Otherwise, you’ll have to deal regularly with a tight parking situation. My B&B was thankfully located near the end of the street and in walking distance to everything.
    A lovely view from the cut-out window at Saint Carlo Church. You can climb to the top of the church and check out a stunning view of the Valley of Noto and downtown Noto. However, be prepared for some stairs (see pic below).
    Here’s what the staircase looks like at Chiesa di San Carlo/Saint Carlo Church in Noto. They are quite steep and old! Only one person can fit on a stair at a time so listen out for others who may be coming. Still, the view at the top is a nice payoff.
    You’ve probably seen the man-and-woman statues that are symbolic of Sicily, but did you know that the pigna, or ceramic pinecone, is another symbol of hospitality and prosperity in Sicily? This one was on the balcony of where I stayed.
    Obligatory pic of a small car on an Italian street. 🙂
    Gelato from Gelati Bianca in downtown Noto. This was Nutella (I think) and the Sicilia, which blended together locally-grown items like raisins and almonds. Molto buono!
    Another view of the arch in beautiful downtown Noto.

  • Here’s What to See and Do in Noto, Sicily

    Beautiful Noto, Sicily, Italy, with its Baroque architecture. Picture from Wikimedia Commons.

    Whether you’re lured to Noto, Sicily, Italy, by its Baroque architecture or its famous appearance in season 2 of “White Lotus,” there’s plenty to see and do in this charming town, located in southeastern Sicily.

    In his Sicily travel guidebook, European travel guru Rick Steves says that Noto may well be “Sicily’s most pristine small city.”

    Let’s quickly fill you in on Noto’s history and then guide you to things to see and do.

    Like much of Sicily, Noto’s earlier influences came from a mish-mash of cultures, including the Muslims, Normans, and Romans. If you fast forward a few centuries–specifically to the year 1693–a major earthquake hit and destroyed the city, which at that time was called Netum.

    In the 1700s, the city was rebuilt at a new site a few kilometers away and constructed in Sicilian Baroque style. That paved the way for the beautiful, classic Baroque look that defines Noto today. In fact, the Baroque background led Noto to become recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    Now, the city is a growing destination for those visiting Sicily, whether they are spending more time in Catania (an hour away by car), Siracuse (Syracuse) or even coming from Palermo a couple of hours away. Noto can make for a beautiful day trip, or you might choose to stay there for a few days to explore and use the town as a “basecamp” to explore nearby cities like Siracusa, Ragusa, and Modica.

    Here’s the scoop on things to see and do in Noto bello.

    Picture shared by Stefania Lampedecchia. (@Slampe78).

    Cattedrale di Noto

    The most iconic sight in Noto is Cattedrale di Noto, often just called the Duomo or Chiesa Madre (Mother Church). The wide staircase outside of the Duomo is great for pictures. Find lots of frescoes and gold carvings on the inside.

    Don’t forget to enjoy lots of food when you’re in Noto or anywhere in Sicily. Picture shared by Stefania Lampedecchia. (@Slampe78).

    Eat

    Sicily is known for an amazing food culture, just like the rest of Italy. So, it’s probably no surprise that one major item on your Noto to-do list is sampling lots of restaurants and types of food.

    As you enjoy the places below, keep in mind that Sicily grows a ton of fresh produce as well as items like almonds. Your next plate may feature tomatoes from nearby Pachino or blood oranges or almonds fresh from Sicilia.

    Here are some specific Noto food recommendations and remember–gelato is calorie-free in Italy :-).

    —Ristorante Manna Noto, featuring Mediterranean food in a modern bistro style. “The dining experience was spectacular, from the service to the dishes,” says Brianna Buffo, who visited Noto in May 2025. She said one person in her group had celiac disease, and the restaurant was very accommodating.

    —Trattoria Fontana d’Ercole, where visitor Azmi Anees had fresh pasta alla norma that featured fried egglant and ricotta.

    —Caffe Sicilia, a well-known pastry shop in the area that’s been featured in an episode of “Chef’s Table” on Netflix. Enjoy almond pastries, cannoli, and much more, yum…

    –If you’re staying local and want a unique experience, Buffo recommends Via Delle Palme, a husband-and-wife chef team that will prepare a meal where you are staying. Buffo says the meal she enjoyed included fresh and seasonally harvested ingredients perfectly paired with wine–and homemade limoncello for the finale. She also said that the chefs, Buccio Cappello and Giuliana Pucci, were “kind, lovely people.”

    The view from Chiesa di Montevergine. Picture shared by Chris Cavanaugh.

    Wander Around Noto

    Of course, if you’re on vacation in any town in Italy, you’ll do yourself a favor by wandering a bit and soaking up in the atmosphere. Although Noto has gained more tourists in recent years, it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of a Florence, Rome, or Venice. Take advantage of that calmer feel to check out some of Noto’s top sights, including:

    –Porta Reale, or the Royal Gate

    –Palazzo Nicolaci

    –Street art. “I enjoyed wandering the city streets to look at the art on the stairs by artist Carlo Coniglio and others,” says Chris Cavanaugh, travel expert and founder of the online travel publication Spritzience.com. (Some of the pictures in this article were shared by Cavanaugh.)

    –Corso Vittorio Emanuele

    –Chiesa di Montevergine, where you can hike up a spiral staircase to the top of the bell tower for city views, Cavanaugh says.

    –Shopping! We found these two interesting articles (here and here) with several shopping recommendations in Noto.

    Street art on the stairs in Noto. Image shared by Chris Cavanaugh.

    Infiorata di Noto/Flower Festival

    If you’re in Noto in mid-May, you may be lucky enough to witness its annual flower festival with unique floral mosaics. Called the Infiorata, the festival takes place the third Sunday in May each year.

    “It was a beautiful sight and added another layer of fun and conversation as we strolled the city,” Buffo says.

    Noto Antica

    Check out Noto Antica, or ancient Noto, to see the ruins of the original town demolished by the 1693 earthquake. It’s about 20 minutes away from downtown Noto.

    Look at these cute boxes at Teatro Comunale Tina Di Lorenzo. Picture shared by Chris Cavanaugh.

    Teatro Comunale Tina Di Lorenzo

    Check out Teatro Comunale Tina Di Lorenzo for its marvelous boxes and a painted ceiling to admire, Cavanaugh of Spritzience recommends. The theater seats 308 and is used often for opera, concerts, ballet, and shows.

    Cantina Marilina

    Want to check out a local vineyard and winery? Cantina Marilina is a great, famiy-run option where you can enjoy lunch as well as vino.

    Kapuhala, a farm-based resort near downtown Noto.

    Kapuhala: A Unique Place to Stay

    You’ve got many choices of places to stay if you’re in Noto or southeast Sicily. One place we were told about while researching this article is Kapuhala, a family-run, eco-conscious resort in Noto that has a farm-to-table restaurant, a yoga studio, two vineyards, and olive trees. It’s considered agri-turismo, or a farm stay. It’s close to both Noto and Marzamemi.

    Noto views. Picture from Wikimedia Commons.

    Nearby Places to Visit from Noto

    OK, so you’re on the Noto train with us and ready to visit. Here are some other nearby destinations you may want to check out:

    —Catania, which has lots to see and is home to a major airport (when you fly into Sicily, you’ll fly into Catania on its east coast or Palmero on its west coast)

    —Marzamemi, a small village where you can grab a bite to eat, shop a little, and discover the area’s tuna processing heritage

    —Vendicari Nature Reserve, for peaceful nature, bird watching, and a beach experience (bring your own towels, snacks and other supplies)

    —Modica, a town also known for beautiful Baroque architecture and a chocolate museum (yum)

    —Siracusa/Syracuse, popular for its history and scenery and includes the stunning island of Ortigia

    —Ragusa, with more historical architecture and the Ragusa Archaeological Museum

    Buon viaggio!