Val di Noto Destination in Sicily · Province of Syracuse

Val di Noto is an area in southeastern Sicily whose late Baroque towns have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. The site takes in parts of eight towns that were rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693.

How an earthquake shaped the towns

The 1693 earthquake destroyed many towns across the southeast of the island. They were rebuilt with late Baroque churches, palaces, and squares, and because so many communities were restored or rebuilt in the same period, their streets still share one architectural style. UNESCO describes these towns as the culmination of the last phase of Baroque in Europe and inscribed them together in 2002.

The name comes from the island's old administrative map. Sicily was once divided into three parts: Val di Mazara, Val Demone, and Val di Noto.

The eight towns of Val di Noto

The World Heritage Site includes parts of these towns:

• Caltagirone
• Catania
• Militello Val di Catania
• Modica
• Noto
• Palazzolo Acreide
• Ragusa
• Scicli

Today the eight towns sit in three provinces. Catania, Caltagirone, and Militello Val di Catania belong to the province of Catania; Ragusa, Modica, and Scicli to the province of Ragusa; Noto and Palazzolo Acreide to the province of Syracuse. If you want to see several towns, these groups are a practical way to plan the trip.

Beaches on the coast

The area reaches down to the sea. Two well-known spots are the sandy beaches of San Lorenzo and the cove of Calamosche, which lies inside the Vendicari nature reserve. This stretch of coast is good for swimming and snorkeling, so a trip here can combine sightseeing in the Baroque towns with days at the beach.

Chocolate from Modica, cheese from Ragusa

Two Sicilian specialties carry the names of places in Val di Noto: the chocolate of Modica and Ragusano cheese from the province of Ragusa. Both are easy to find where they are made.

When to go

There is no climate data for the southeast itself here, but the 1995–2024 (air) and 2023–2025 (sea) record from the north coast near Palermo gives a guide. Average daily highs are about 19 °C (66 °F) in April, 23 °C (73 °F) in May, around 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August, and still 23 °C (74 °F) in October. The sea is about 24 °C (76 °F) in June, 28 °C (82 °F) in August, and 26 °C (79 °F) in September. Inland and on the Catania plain, July is hotter, at 32–35 °C (90–95 °F). Spring and fall suit long walks through the old towns, while June through September is the season for swimming.

Who Val di Noto suits

Val di Noto suits travelers interested in architecture and urban history. The eight towns share one building history, and each shows how the rebuilding after 1693 played out. For those who want culture and the sea in the same trip, San Lorenzo and Calamosche are on the coast nearby.