Holiday Villas in Noto

Besides its cultural and historic attractions, Noto also has all of the shops you need during your stay and an atmospheric market held each Monday. You could also try Siracusa for its many boutiques, designer shops and bustling foodie market.

Noto is a delightful town bursting with cafes, bars and restaurants where you can tuck into delicious Sicilian dishes in traditional, family run eateries. Wander the beautiful Baroque streets and take in the sites before stopping for a refreshment. Caffe Sicilia is a must for gelato lovers. With unusual flavours and refreshing granitas, be sure to visit while in Noto.

This part of the island offers stunning sandy beaches, including Lido di Noto, a popular beach spot for many tourists. The Vendicari Nature reserve is also home to fabulous beaches, including Eloro and the picture perfect sands of Calamosche. A natural setting, be sure to pack a picnic. You may also spot wildlife on your route there, including swans, storks and flamingos.

Sicily is famous for the art of puppetry and, in Siracusa, you’ll find puppet shows to attend. There's also the puppet museum on Via della Giudecca to visit. Several boat trips depart from Siracusa and it’s possible to join excursions to the nearby sea caves, as well as cruise the coastline’s many beautiful bays and coves. Or for mini chocoholics, visit Antica Dolceria Bonajuto in Modica. This chocolate shop is the oldest in all of Sicily and offers some interesting delicacies as well as classics such as cannoli.

A visit to Noto should be enjoyed at least once during your Sicilian holiday. Full to the brim with Baroque delights, there’s the Cathedral, an iconic highlight of the town’s skyline, set atop an imposing flight of stairs. The pedestrianised street of Corso Vittorio Emanuele is lined with honey hued churches, pristine public gardens and dazzling palazzi. If visiting in May, for one weekend, artists transform the town for the Infiorata festival. During this spectacle, a beautiful mural made of flower petals cascades down a central street, marking the arrival of spring.

Sightseeing opportunities are plentiful in this region. The Baroque towns of Modica, Ispica and Ragusa provide bars, restaurants, great shopping and intricate architecture to enjoy. There’s also Siracusa, a captivating city with a well preserved archaeological site. Be sure to visit the 5th century BC Teatro Greco and the intriguing Ear of Dionysius.