Noto is often called the Baroque pearl of Sicily. Its historic center, built in the 18th century, with the Cathedral of St. Nicholas has been entered on the UNESCO list. Although the town is located away from the coast, it is a good starting point for the surrounding picturesque beaches.
The history of Noto dates back to the 9th century BC, and the city has been closely associated with nearby Syracuse for centuries. During the Middle Ages, it was an important commercial and cultural center. Its development was interrupted in 1693 by a powerful earthquake, which razed all the buildings to the ground. The appearance of the historic center today is the result of a baroque reconstruction that took over 100 years.
The city is situated on the Monti Iblei plateau above the valley and the coast below. It offers beautiful views of the entire area, including the not too distant sea. Tourists coming to the city also willingly use the beaches located a few kilometers from the center. These are the sandy beaches of San Lorenzo, Calamosche Beach, La Spinazza Beach, Cala Benardo Beach and Elorno Beach. Some of them are still intimate and are devoid of much tourism development.
The main attraction of Noto is the historic, baroque center built from scratch in the 18th century. There are wonderful churches here, including the monumental St. Nicholas, the Church of St. Francis, the Church of St. Clare, the Church of St. Charles Borromeo. A valuable monument is the Palazzo Ducezio, which today serves as the town hall. There are also richly decorated city palaces and tenement houses, such as the Nicolaci Villadorata Palace. The axis of the old town is the cobbled Corso Vittorio Emanuele with its many restaurants and cafes.
There is the Vendicari Nature Reserve in the vicinity of Noto. It covers a large part of the coast with wetlands, wild beaches and dunes inhabited by wild birds. Some beaches are available for relaxation, but you have to take into account the lack of any infrastructure. There are also sites for observing birds living in wetlands.
