About
The Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto are a group of eight towns in southeastern Sicily that together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This article focuses on the entry as it is recorded here, with Noto as its main point of reference. The towns were rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1693, and the result is a distinctly Sicilian form of Baroque architecture that visitors can explore town by town.
What you will see
The site takes in eight towns, among them Noto, Ragusa and Modica. Each has its own character, but they share the same period of rebuilding and the same architectural language. The entry describes them as representing a high point of Baroque art and architecture, so a visit is best approached as a walk through a series of connected places rather than a single monument.
- Noto, whose cathedral is one of the names associated with the site.
- Ragusa Ibla, the historic quarter of Ragusa.
- Modica and the other towns of the Val di Noto.
Planning your visit
The main address listed for the site is Piazza Municipio in Noto, a useful starting point for exploring the town on foot. The site is an open heritage area rather than a ticketed building, so the experience depends largely on how much of the surrounding towns you choose to see. A contact number is listed as +39 0931 896 111 if you need to check information before you travel.
Because the towns are spread across the southeast of the island, many visitors combine a few of them into one trip rather than attempting all eight at once. Going slowly through the streets and squares suits the character of the place best.