Entering Noto is like walking into in a Baroque fantasyland you thought only existed in your dreams. It is beautiful to wander through, with striking churches, palaces, and greenery, alocal restaurants and gelaterias luring you in at every turn with enchanting odors. The buildings and their rooftops glow with a rich red-gold hue, even in summer downpours, as we learned. While the medieval town itself has existed in name for centuries (even home to ancient Greeks and Romans), it was devastated by an earthquake in 1693 and entirely rebuilt (as it stands today) on a hilltop in the early 18th century by three of the most celebrated Sicilian architects.
Explore some of my photo highlights of this magical little UNESCO-protected corner of the world through my photo journal: churches, narrow and winding cobblestone streets, bell towers with amazing views, and the best granita we had in all of Sicily.
A quick note: we went into Noto on two separate days and you may be able to tell from the photos. Our first afternoon in Noto was during and just after a downpour, and our second time through was perfectly sunny and bright. It’s beautiful and charming to wander through in both weather, but the narrow, winding streets are hard to drive through when they become a rushing river.
Anna Logs It 