Holiday apartment in Noto: Baroque city, history and nature

Noto combines impressive Baroque architecture with a multifaceted history and a remarkable natural landscape. The city is one of the eight towns included in the UNESCO World Heritage site “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto”; the entire historic centre of Noto is part of the World Heritage site. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Noto can therefore choose a place where urban discoveries, historic sites and nature-related experiences can be brought together in a single travel plan.

Holiday apartment in Noto among Baroque squares and urban history

The present-day cityscape consists of an orderly street network laid out on sloping terraces. One of the main axes of this grid-like network is Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It is interrupted by Piazza dell’Immacolata, Piazza del Municipio and Piazza XVI Maggio. Aristocratic palaces from the 18th century in the late Baroque style stand along Via Cavour. This means Noto can be explored not only through individual buildings, but also through its streets and squares.

At the top of a monumental staircase with four flights stands the Cattedrale di San Nicolò. Its façade combines Baroque and classical elements and dominates Piazza Municipio. Following reconstruction and restoration, the cathedral reopened for worship on 18 June 2007. Another representative late Baroque monument is the Chiesa di San Domenico. Rosario Gagliardi designed it between 1703 and 1727 as a monastery church for the Dominican friars.

The history of the place extends beyond the present-day cityscape. Noto Antica, also known as Netum, was the ancient settlement of Noto and was destroyed by the earthquake of 11 January 1693. It was located on Monte Alveria, 8 kilometres north of the present-day city of Noto, and was surrounded by imposing walls and the deep valleys of Monte Alveria. Noto was rebuilt at a new location. This contrast between the former settlement site and the newly built city shapes the area’s historical orientation.

Plan a holiday apartment in Noto for culture and nature

The Villa Romana del Tellaro, a late Roman villa from the period of the late empire, is located within the municipality of Noto. Its floor mosaics are dated approximately to the middle of the 4th century AD. The depictions include the return of Hector’s body and hunting scenes. The villa therefore adds a significantly older chapter to the city’s Baroque history and provides a distinct cultural focus.

The Riserva Naturale Oasi faunistica di Vendicari is also located within the municipality of Noto. Its wetlands are of great importance to migratory birds and are home to hundreds of bird species every year during the seasonal migrations. “Noto in Bici” is also relevant for active routes: it is the public, automated bicycle rental service operated as part of the Municipality of Noto’s bike-sharing system.

For additional orientation within the destination, Rigolizia is also relevant. The combination of UNESCO World Heritage, historic settlement remains, mosaic art, a nature reserve and bicycle rental gives you several concrete points of reference for choosing a holiday apartment in Noto according to your preferred balance of culture, nature and active exploration.

For the overarching travel overview: Syracuse.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Arenella, Ferla, Fanusa, Solarino, Canicattini Bagni, Città Giardino, Carlentini.