15/06/2018

Noto, capital of Sicilian baroque

Day trip to Noto

A bit over an hour’s drive out of Catania, and not far from the beautiful coastline of Syracusa, lies the sumptuous town of Noto.

A well treasured UNESCO world heritage site, Noto is known to all as the capital of Sicilian baroque. It has the aristocratic elegance that characterises some other beautiful Sicilian towns such as Taormina, Palermo and Agrigento, to name but a few.

Noto - Corso Vittorio Emanuele — *Afternoon stroll in Noto*

The architectural heritage of Noto today is the result of the joint efforts of three architects who rebuilt the city after the devastating earthquake of 1693 that destroyed much of the region. It is elegant and charming and exudes a warm and welcoming vibe to the visiting traveller. Hopefully it will escape the unforgivable toll of mass tourism and remain the undeniably unspoilt gem it is today.

Thanks to the wide pedestrianised main street of Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the abundant open spaces, Noto does not possess the suffocating feeling of a small, old village. It is warm and welcoming and can be easily covered by foot within a day.

La Porta Reale a Noto — *La Porta Reale or L’arc de Triomphe. The symbol of Sicilian allegiance to the House of Bourbon.*

Visitors are easily endeared to Noto by the warm honey coloured tones of the majestic limestone buildings and the dramatic architecture surrounding the Piazza Municipio.

Chiesa di San Carlo, Noto — *View from the bell tower of the Chiesa di San Carlo*

A sweaty and claustrophobic climb up the narrow stone staircase to the rooftop of the church of San Carlo will give you an even better view over the centre of Noto.

Balconies of Noto — *Baroque is everywhere. Look up.*

Where to eat in Noto

We chose Bistro Manna Noto for our midday meal. The name alone convinced me. Manna, loosely translated as “food from heaven” appealed to our imagination. And it certainly did not disappoint.

Manna Noto dining area — *Manna Noto – dining area interior*

We decided to sacrifice the tempting possibility of a warm Spring alfresco lunch on the terrace for the more intimate interior dining space. The Maltese architect, Gordon Guillaumier, who is responsible for the contemporary design has done a fine job in transforming the cellars of the historical Palazzo Nicolaci into a cool, modern eatery. It is elegant albeit in an informal kind of way.

Monastic table - Manna Noto — *Monastic seating for twelve*

The structure of the old arched cellars of the historic palazzo provide old charm and blend well with the tasteful design. A creative play with vintage style lighting fixtures adds the final touch.

*Creative wine rack at Manna Noto. May I help myself?*

The manna

Manna Noto offers a seasonal cuisine with a twist. The reputable chef, Gioacchino Brambilla, prepares local specialities with fresh ingredients and delivers a light and creative touch to his dishes.

Manna Noto - amuse bouche — *A light amuse bouche on the house*

Manna Noto - fresh starter — *Sicilian style mozzarella di buffala with crushed olives*

Manna Noto - spaghetti ai gamberi — *Sicilian red shrimp fettuccine*

Caffé Sicilia

Caffe Sicilia - Noto — *Chilling at Caffe Sicilia*

On the never-ending trail of pursuing the ideal cassatina we ended up at Caffé Sicilia conveniently located on the central Corso Vittorio Emanuele. the competition was closed that day so we can not make comparisons.

Caffe Sicilia — *Another cassatina is put to the test*

The “Infiorata”: flower power.

For those of you who would consider visiting Noto in the future keep in mind that every year in May this town hosts an event called the “Infiorata”. The streets and alleys are then lined with flowers portraying artistic images. It does not take much convincing by locals to understand that this colourful happening will merely add to the many attractive traits of this town. Therefore, one must return!