1-Day Trip to Noto from Catania. Sicily
Noto. The victim of Etna
The medieval town of Noto was destroyed by the 1693 Sicilian earthquake. Over half the population is said to have died from it. It was decided to rebuild the town at the present site, on the left bank of the River Asinaro, closer to the Ionian shore. These circumstances have led this town to have a unique architectural homogeneity since the core of the town was all built over the next decades after the disaster in what is a typical and highly preserved example of Sicilian baroque.
To Noto from Catania by bus
We stayed in Catania for a few days and decided to make a day trip to Noto. It lays 93 km from Catania. Buses depart several times a day from the main bus station of Catania. We recommend buying tickets in advance, during the high season buses are full.
We took a bus that departs at 08:30 am and arrives to Noto at 10:05. The trip by bus takes 1,5 hour. However, due to terrible traffic jam we arrived at 11 am.
A single one-way ticket costs 8.40 EUR.
We bought our tickets via Trainline website
The bus arrives to Noto Ecce Homo de Pantheon
The bus station in Noto is only 5 min walk from Porta Reale.
The Royal Gate of Noto (Porta Reale) is a large triumphal arch that marks the beginning of Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main street of the city.
Breakfast in Caffè Sicilia
This is an iconic patisserie in Noto, its owner and pastry chef Corrado Assenza nurtures family traditions and creates extraordinary desserts from local Sicilian ingredients.
The whole world learned about the cafe after Corrado Assenza appeared in the second episode of Season 4 of the popular Netflix show Chef's Table.
This is the story of a man who fights not only for family traditions, but also for the support of local products and Sicilian goods.
A traditional Sicilian breakfast is a fluffy brioche with granita or ice cream. And traditional granita in Noto is made from local almonds. Granita can be eaten with a spoon, or in a more Sicilian way, i.e. with brioche.
Sightseeing
The architecture of Noto is built from tuff, a limestone rock of volcanic origin. In the light of the sun, all the houses have the color of honey, and in the evening they turn pink.
Sicilian Baroque has beautiful ornaments made of stone and wrought iron.
Palazzo Nicolaci
These incredible facades hide equally beautiful interior.
For 10 euros, we bought a ticket to the three main sights of Noto. The first of them is Palazzo Nicolaci.
The Nicolaci were a bourgeois family in the period after the 1693 earthquake that destroyed the ancient city of Noto. Their wealth grew through land holdings. Today, the baroque building has about 90 rooms, each with a different style and purpose.
Teatro Comunale
The theater is named after an Italian theater and silent film actress who grew up in Noto - Tina di Lorenzo. The theater of incredible beauty is designed for 308 spectators, including four rows of boxes and a gallery for 88 seats.
Use the same ticket you bought in Palazzo Nicolaci.
Palazzo di Lorenzo Castelluccio
The Palazzo was built in 1782, at the end of eighteenth century, when the Baroque style started to fade away in favor of the Neoclassical style.
It was built for the family Di Lorenzo who carried the noble title of Marquis of Castelluccio. The family was very powerful from the 18th until the beginning of the twentieth century.
In that period the family was strongly tied with the Court of Naples, governed by the Bourbons.
The current owner bought the palace in 2011. Restoration work was carried out with great respect for the history and soul of the palazzo, which was restored to its original appearance and later opened to visitors.
We highly recommend this palazzo, a pure gem for all those who are intrested in the history of art.
- Single ticket costs 12 EUR (last entrance 6 pm) - Guided tour: 25 EUR (reservation required; last entrance 5.30 pm)
Lunch
Sabbinirica À Putia D'Ecole
Our meals:
Casamatta PIZZERIA
Palazzo Ducezio
Use the same ticket as to Palazzo Nicolaci and Teatro Communale.
On the last floor there is a terrace with the 360 view of the city of Noto.
Before leaving, take a look at the Hall of Mirrors, which continues to host diplomatic delegations. The ceiling is decorated with beautiful trompe l'oeil.
Other city attractions
Cattedrale di San Nicolo
The cathedral of Noto reopened only in 2007 after the cathedral's dome collapsed in 1996 after weakening caused by the 1990 earthquake.
The cathedral in Noto is located right next to Palazzo Ducezio, there are large stairs leading to it, the inside is rather undecorated.
The cathedral has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Campanile of Chiesa Di San Carlo Borromeo
One of the oldest churches in the city in the Baroque style with a very beautiful facade. Possibility to climb the bell tower - 80 steps for €2
Infiorata - Baroque Flower Festival
If you are planning your trip to Noto in May, make sure to visit the city during the INFIORATA spring festival. It takes place yearly on the third Sunday in May, on the central Via Nicolaci.
Teams of young artists arrange millions of flower petals to decorate the street floor, forming elaborate polychrome designs. This Baroque display dates back to the 17th century and was created in Rome to celebrate Corpus Christi.
Photo by travelnoto.com
And the best view of the street full of flower paintings is guaranteed from the balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci.
Tasty souvenirs from Caffe Sicilia
Before heading back to Catania, we stopped by Caffe Sicilia again to buy the famous Sicilian ricotta cannoli and enjoy them on the balcony of our apartment in Catania.
We also bought their preserves:
- Apricot extra jam (13 EUR)
- Bergamot Marmalade (13 EUR)
- Bronte DOP Pistacchios Cream (16 EUR)
They are so delicious!! So highly recommend to find for them some space in your luggage.
Full offer
Return trip to Catania
The bus to Catania departs from the same station.
Taking into account chaotic timetable, we recommend you NOT to take the very last bus of a day. It may not come. If you are lucky, the bus will come on time, however, sometimes they have terrible delays and you may wait even more than 1 hour.
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