8 Awesome Things to Do in Noto, Sicily for First-Timers

8 Best Things to Do in Noto

1. Visit Noto Cathedral

Noto Cathedral is probably one of the most well-known landmarks in Noto. It is a catholic church located right at the center of the city's old town and it is one of the best examples of the amazing Sicilian-Baroque architectural style you will ever see here.

The cathedral was built in the late 17th century after a previous cathedral on the same site was destroyed in the 1693 earthquake that devastated much of southeastern Sicily. It took them several decades before it was completed in the 18th Century.

Due to its long construction period, there are various peculiarities and inconsistencies of design you can observe about the structure of the cathedral which for me personally, makes the place much more interesting to see than all the other picture-perfect churches you find in Italy.

The beautiful facade is also quite a sight to behold as its composition is comparable to those of the church of Notre Dame in Versailles. You will see its massive facade towering over you as you ascend up the stairs to get inside.

Due to unfortunate events involving earthquakes, and weak structural damage that was not maintained, the dome of the church collapsed in 1996 and they had to rebuild and repaint the interior so what you see inside might not be as beautiful and authentic as its facade.

The cathedral is open from 9.00 AM to 8:00 PM every day and the entrance fee is free to the public. If you are staying late into the evening, be sure to witness an incredible sunset over the city from the steps in front of the cathedral. Definitely one of the best things to do in Noto so do not miss it.

2. Admire the stunning Porta Reale o Ferdinandea

As you enter Noto's Old Town, one of the first historical structures you will see is Porta Reale o Ferdinandea, a gate built in the 18th century as part of the fortifications that surrounded the city.

The gate was named after King Ferdinand III of Sicily and was designed to symbolize the power and importance of the city of Noto. It features two large towers flanking a central arch and is decorated with relief sculptures and carved stone moldings.

The place offers us a glimpse into the city's rich heritage, and a great place to begin exploring the winding streets, historic buildings, and charming squares that make Noto such a unique and special place.

3. Check Out the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi to the Immaculate

Entering Noto's Old Town, right out of the bat, you will encounter the striking Church of Saint Francis of Assisi to the Immaculate, a catholic church, one of the many notable religious buildings here and is known for its beautiful Baroque architecture and intricate decoration.

The church is a prime example of the Sicilian-Baroque architectural style that dominated much of Sicilian architecture during the late 17th and early 18th centuries when many of these structures were built.

One of the main highlights of this church is its facade, which is adorned with ornate sculptures and reliefs, while the interior is painted white and decorated with frescoes, gilded moldings, and intricate marble work.

Although the interior might look rather bland compared to other churches in Italy, you got to remember that this area of Italy is prone to earthquakes and many of these structures were damaged multiple times throughout history which is probably why it is not as well maintained. That said, if you prefer old, authentic structures as I am, you are going to love the interior of these places.

The church is open from 6:30 AM to 7 PM every day and it is free to enter the church. Be sure to drop by here as you explore the beautiful old town of Noto.

4. Visit Palazzo Ducezio

Located just across the street from Noto Cathedral, you will find Palazzo Ducezio, another great Sicilian-Baroque style architecture known for its impressive facade and beautiful interior that you can visit while you are here.

The palace was built in the late 17th century and was inspired by a French palace of the same period. It was designed to serve as the residence of the Duke of Noto, who was one of the most powerful figures in the city during that time.

The beautiful façade characterized by its twenty arches supported by columns and the lavishly decorated interior housing beautiful neo-classical frescoes and other artifacts make this place stands out from the rest of the attractions here.

You can also check out the interior of the palace with the entrance fee ticket costing around 3 EUR per person. The palace is open from 10 AM to 1:30 PM and again from 3 PM to 6 PM every day.

5. Explore Nicolaci Palace

Nicolaci Palace is another beautiful palace you can visit in Noto. Located not too far from Noto Cathedral, the place offers a chance for us to get a glimpse of what life was like for the nobles living here.

The palace was built in the 18th Century as a residence of a rich Sicilian banker from the Nicolaci family before it was sold to the government and turned into a museum you can visit.

The facade is decorated with lavish balconies with curvy wrought iron balustrades, statues of mermaids, sphinxes, and more. The place has over 90 rooms, most of which are lavishly decorated and you can see. Highly recommended if you are interested in the history of this part of Sicily. The palace is open from 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM and from 03:00 PM to 05:30 PM every day and the ticket price is 4 EUR per person.

6. Check Out the view from the top of St. Charles Church

If you are looking for a great viewpoint over the old town of Noto, you can't go wrong with the Bell Tower of St. Charles Church, an 18th Century church with a bell tower that dominates much of Noto's Old Town.

From the bell tower, you can see Noto Cathedral and its dome as well as the beautiful sandstone-colored roof-tops of houses, and the beautiful landscapes surrounding Noto. It is truly the best viewpoint you can get here.

The climb is also not particularly difficult and anyone should be able to go up it without problems although, the spiral stairway can get a bit narrow towards to top of the church. Not recommended for those who have claustrophobia.

To get up to the church's bell tower, you are going to have to pay the entrance of around 2 EUR per person and you will get access to the church, the terrace, and the bell tower.

The interior of the church is also very nice and worth a visit with beautiful frescoes, relief sculptures, and carved stone moldings decorated all over the church. The church is open every day from 8 AM to sunset. Definitely one of the best things to do in Noto so be sure to check out the view from up here during the blue hours for incredible lights.

7. Buy Souvenirs from the Flea Market at Villa Comunale Noto

The moment you arrive in Noto, you will encounter a flea market at Villa Comunale Noto, a public park and a communal area with lines of massive trees and several local shops selling all kinds of goods.

Located just outside of the old town, east of Porta Reale o Ferdinandea where the bus stop to Syracuse is, the flea market is a great place to stroll around and shop or escape the scorching heat of Sicily.

If you are looking for a place to buy some souvenirs or locally produced goods like honey, food ingredients, and snacks, be sure to walk by Villa Comunale Noto while you are exploring Noto.

8. Visit Noto During the Flower Festival

Last but not least, if you can choose when to visit Noto, I highly recommend you align your trip on the day of the Flower Festival of Noto, an annual flower event where the city is lit up with colorful flowers, spread out across the main street of the Old Town.

The annual event happens every year around mid-May (usually from 19th - 23rd) for 4 days straight where the street of Via Nicolaci is entirely decorated with flower compositions creating pictures, images, and ornaments.

The event has been happening every year since 1980 and it attracts a ton of tourists from around the world as well as florists to participate in the event in this little town in Sicily.

At the event, you can expect a 122-meter-long street filled with colorful flowers which make for a great photo opportunity. Be sure to go up to the terrace of St. Charles Church for an incredible view over Via Nicolaci street. For the official date of the festival, you can check out the website here.

How to get to Noto?

From abroad, you just have to fly into Catania, a major travel hub located on the eastern side of Sicily and from there you can take a train from Catania Central to Syracuse, taking around 1 hour and cost 9 EUR. You can book the train ticket here.

Syracuse is a beautiful coastal city that offers a good base to explore this part of Sicily. I highly recommend you base yourself out of Syracuse and visit Noto as a day trip. Be sure to check out the Where to Stay section for hotel suggestions.

From Syracuse, all you have to do is catch a bus operated by Interbus from Syracuse's bus station and it will take you to Noto in less than 1 hour dropping you off near Noto's old town. The bus runs every hour and it should cost you around 9 EUR. You can book the ticket online here.

To get back to Syracuse, you just have to wait for the bus at Noto's bus stop for about 30 minutes and the bus will take you back to Syracuse in no time. You can also take the train but it runs less often and the train station is a little further south from the Old Town which might not be as convenient as taking the bus.

Further Reading for Sicily

I hope you found this Italy travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Sicily? Check out: One Week Backpacking Sicily Itinerary.
• First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
• Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You are going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• The capital city of Sicily, Palermo, is a diverse city steeped in rich and unique history, cultures, and traditions, and it is the best place to begin your journey in Sicily. Planning a trip to Palermo? Be sure to check out the 17 Best Things to Do in Palermo.
• A great day trip from Palermo, Cefalu is a great destination complete with beautiful beaches and epic hikes. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Cefalu.
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• Syracuse is a great base to explore eastern Sicily. If you are planning to visit the city, be sure to check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Syracuse.
• If you are looking for a great base to explore Puglia and Southern Italy, Bari is the best place to be. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Bari.
• Known for its unique cave dwellings and rock-cut architecture, Matera is one of the upcoming places for travelers to visit in Southern Italy. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Matera.
• For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Central Italy Itinerary.
• Rome needs no introduction from me. From well-trodden attractions like the Colosseum to hidden gem spots like the Appian Way, here are the 20 Best Things to Do in Rome you shouldn't miss!
• Wondering what you can do in Rome in 3 days? Check out our 3-day Backpacking Rome Itinerary.
• Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.