Welcome to Noto (A €10,900 Sicily Greeting)

The Sicily city of Noto gets a brand new entrance to the city.

Three-dimensional writing made with steel letters greets visitors as they arrive at the Sicilian city of Noto. Costing approximately €10,900, the Italian city is looking to redesign its entrance.

The steel writing that will feature at the Sicily city’s entrance will bring back the English phrase "Welcome to Noto". This new sign will be installed along Viale Confalonieri, the continuation of the SS 114 and the road that leads onto Via Napoli, the main access road to the city.

If you’re unfamiliar with this incredible Italian city, Noto is a small jewel of Sicilian Baroque. This stunning city is perched on a plateau overlooking the Asinaro valley, and sits between Syracuse on the coast and Modica inland.

Noto, a Sicilian Marvel

Throughout Italy, Noto is an important Sicilian, Roman, Byzantine and Arab centre. In 1693,  the city was destroyed by a devastating earthquake but thanks to a skilful reconstruction, Noto has become a magnificent city of art.

Noto has been listed as an UNESCO heritage site, along with numerous renowned Sicilian locations that were also affected by the 1693 earthquake, including:

• Caltagirone
• Militello
• Catania
• Modica
• Palazzolo
• Ragusa
• Scicli

The extraordinary beauty of Noto, and of the other cities rebuilt after the earthquake, characterizes the whole Val di Noto (Province of Noto).

For its reconstruction, great architects were called upon, the majority of which arrived from Rome, infusing the city with the distinct Roman Baroque that can still be seen today.

The results of the reconstruction surpassed expectations, breathing renewed life into the city with each location exuding a distinct character: from the dark grey Baroque of Catania, where lava stone was used, to the bright architecture of Noto with honey-coloured hues.

The medieval city, where traces of walls and historic castles are visible, corresponds to the ancient Noto. But the new city's structure is one of Baroque, based on wide and rectilinear streets interspersed with squares featuring staircases overlooking churches and palaces.

If it ain’t Baroque...

One of the main Noto squares is Piazza dell'Immacolata, with the homonymous church. Here you’ll also find the town hall, the church of the Santissimo Salvatore, the bishop's palace and the splendid cathedral of San Nicolò (1771), which dominates from the top scenic stairway.

In Piazza XVI Maggio, another famous Noto square, you’ll find the church of S. Domenico (1727), with its curvilinear façade, and the Dominican convent with a beautiful ashlar portal. Here, the church of the Crucifix, with the famous statue of Madonna della Neve, sculpted by Francesco Laurana in 1471, is located.

In addition to Noto and other beautiful Baroque cities, for lovers of ancient civilisations, a trip that cannot be missed is one to the surrounding areas where archaeological sites of great value are preserved.

There’s the Greek cities of Eloro and Camarina, and the Greek theatre of Palazzolo Acreide all waiting to be discovered. Additionally, the Necropoli di Pantalica, a UNESCO site, and the prehistoric village of Castelluccio stretching up to the Roman villa of Tellaro are must-visit destinations.

Noto is a perfect place to visit in every period of the year: in summer, you can relax in serenity on the beautiful beaches of ​​Sicily, while in autumn and winter, you can explore the wine roads of the Val di Noto that run between six municipalities of South-eastern Sicily, such as Palazzolo, Avola, Noto, Rosolini, Pachino and Ispica.

Get in touch

If you want to travel to this beautiful city, our Sicily experts are waiting to hear from you. We specialise in tailor-made travel to Sicily and Sicily package holidays. Contact us via our online form today or call us at (UK) 01223 637331or (US) 347-594-5500.