A natural disaster, and more precisely, an earthquake that destroyed eastern Sicily in 1693 became a reason for eight towns in South-Eastern Sicily to be reborn. Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli are the 8 towns that were not just re-built, but redesigned - a difficult deed, if you think that most of these towns were actually inhabited before their restoration.
But, what makes them stand out? Their narrow straight streets leading to Baroque-style churches and the glorious "golden hour", when people come out to take a nightly stroll, the passeggiata will make you fall in love with Val di Noto. What's more exciting is that the area was designed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it easier to preserve its natural beauty through the years.
But, why do you need to know all these for your Sicilian Experience? Well, cause, according to our opinion, Val di Noto is among the best places to experience the Italian Culture!
A COUNTRY BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN THE MIDST OF VAL DI NOTO!
Wanna make the most of your holidays in Val di Noto? Then you have to pick special attention to your accommodation and, more particularly, to its location. To make your hotel research easier, we found the best hotel in the region: Donna Coraly.
Found in the midst of Val di Noto, this hotel will give you easy access to all of the towns, while its high-quality of services and facilities ensures a premium accommodation quality. It can become the perfect luxury retreat for your summer holidays in Sicily, or your romantic weekend getaway.
The hotel is super close to Syracuse, where you can buy souvenirs and enjoy evening cocktails. While, it's also very close to Noto, a 20-minutes' drive, where you can admire the stunning landscape.
How to Reach Val di Noto
Thankfully, there are plenty ways to reach Val di Noto. Firstly, you can always reach it from the Italy's mainland by car. You can include it as part of a broader road trip in Italy, which is something that we would highly recommend. The area is also accessible by sea and ferry, with plenty direct connections.
When to visit Val di Noto
Nothing compares to spring in Val di Noto but summer is a great season to visit as well. Every spring finds Sicily and Val di Noto, drenched in vivid colours, with wild flowers blooming all over the area. It's also the season when Easter takes place, which is huge occasion for the locals. At the last Sunday in May, a huge celebration takes place at Ragusa, in the of San Giorgio the Dragon Slayer.
July and August are quite hot, and Sicilians, alongside visitors, storm out at the beaches, sunbathing and chilling at the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea. September is quite cooler, with much less tourists. October brings rainfalls in the area and the wild mushrooms i funghi. Later in February is the season when almonds blossom, a beautiful spectacle to watch.
A BIO POOL, A BOTANIC GARDEN & A MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE GARDEN!
Donna Coraly's pride is its exquisite botanical gardens with bio pool and vegetable garden. Their tranquil environment make them perfect from evening or morning walks, while the heated and sanitized pool with the "salts of life" is great for refreshing summer dips or winter soak ups. The mineral salts in the water comes also with great benefits.
The Mediterranean vegetable garden is well-hept at the park's most remote area. Oregano, Thyme and other herbs are found in the garden, as well as vegetables. All plant scents combined created the perfect ambience to enjoy your evening walk. Of course, the botanical garden is filled with plants, flowers and aromatic herbs, while its silence will relax you and give you peace of mind.
The Towns of Val di Noto
Now that we got a rough idea of when and how to travel to Val di Noto, let's explore its beautiful towns.
Scicli - a lovely city among rocky mountains
Scicli is home to numerous 18th century buildings, among of which included the churches of the Madonna delle Milizie and Sant'Ignazio. Via Mormino Penna is a great street where you can admire lined churches, monuments and palazzi. The town is home to various religious events like the horseback procession on 19th March or the Uomo Vivo (the living man).
Caltagirone - the city of ceramics
It's quite obvious when visiting Caltagirone that ceramics are their speciality, as in addition to the bright ceramics that you find at the shop windows, they are also used to decorate bridges, balustrades, frontages, and balconies. The town is home to several wonderful sights like Villa Comunale and Museo della Ceramica, with via Roma featuring some of the most interesting buildings. Of course, a walk at the back streets of the old quarters will gift with plenty surprises.
Catania - the 2nd largest city in Sicily
Photo Credits: Italy Magazine
Home to several great artists like the composer Vincenzo Bellini and the writer Giovanni Verga, Catania is a beloved town by art aficionados. In addition to being the 2nd largest city in Sicily, it's also one of the hottest cities, with summer temperatures reaching up to 40 celsius. Some of the city's must-visit monuments include The Duomo, Fontana dell'Elefante, Teatro Antico and Piazza del Duomo.
Modica - the "one-hundred churches" town
Modica has evolved a lot through the years even though it had to cope with many difficulties (of economic nature). It's definitely one of the most beloved cities in Sicily while it's separated in two areas, Modica Alta (Upper Modica) and Modica Bassa (Lower Modica). The town is known for its old town's baroque look and maze of narrow streets packed with old shops, houses and buildings. Notable sights include the Cathedral of San Giorgio, Chiesa del Carmine and the Church of St. Mary of Bethlehem.
Palazzolo Acreide - in the heart of Iblean Mountains
The modern city of Palazzolo was built at the remains of the ancient city Akrai, now found at the southwest side of the town. It was rebuilt in 18th century, and it now possesses a great number of Baroque Style buildings lining Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Carlo Alberto streets.
Noto - a tiny Baroque jewel that's the result of a tragic event
Noto region is found on a plateau, dominating the valley of the Asinaro. The region is known for its numerous olive and almond trees which make up its picture-perfect landscape. Its reconstruction after the earthquake was performed by several Sicilian artists, while it was supervised by the Duke of Camastra. Since there are plenty things to see and do in the town, there are various tours that will help you see the most of it.
FOODIES, YOU ARE GONNA LOVE THIS PLACE!
If you are a foodie, then you have 1 more reason to stay at Donna Coraly, as it's home to one of the finest restaurants in Vale di Noto. Its refined atmosphere,alongside the aromas of the traditional Sicilian dishes make this place a heave for foodies - and, not only. All dishes are prepared with fresh vegetables and herbs collected by the hotel's organic garden. The restaurant is always open, serving from breakfast to dinner. The wine menu is also exceptional!
Ragusa - a capital standing between two valleys
Ragusa is both recognised for its artistic and historical heritage. It's located right in-between Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica, on a wide limestone hill. Its upper and lower side is separated by valle dei point, they valley of bridges. There are many things to see in this town as well, so taking a tour is highly recommended.
Militello in Val di Catania - an aristocratic court that's now home to 10,000 inhabitants
Militello is a beautiful town where many ancient sites are located like the Benedictine Monastery (the townhall), Museo S. Nicolo, S. Santa Maria alla Catena, Maria SS. della Stella, Chiesa di S. Maria La Vetere, and Porta della Terra.
Your Sicilian Experience in a nutshell!
So, you must have already realized that your Sicilian Experience will include tons of exploration and sightseeing. And, we are sure that your instagram will be filled with the Baroque buildings of Val di Noto, which are all breathtaking. Lastly, we would highly urge you to rent a car, or take a car with you, as you should visit at least 3-4 of these towns during your vacations, in order to get a full gasp of the experience.