It took a while for the pleasures of Noto to sink in as we sat drinking Aperol in the Piazza XVI Maggio next to the grand neoclassical Teatro Comunale. Like all Italian cities, it yields its pleasures more in the side streets where there are old decayed palazzi with decorative metalwork balconies and away from the Corso where the tourists were congregated on a hot Easter Monday. We started with San Francesco, completed in 1745 by Vincenzo Sinatra:-
Next door is the Museo Civico:-
Next to the cathedral is a neoclassical bandstand:-
A good view of the Cathedral which is largely reconstructed, having fallen down in 1996, described by the bishop as ‘crumbling like a biscuit’:-
The Municipio (the upper floor was only added in 1951):-
Then comes San Carlo, designed by Rosario Gagliardi and also reconstructed after an earthquake in 1990:-
Good heads in the street alongside:-
We sat in the Piazza XVI Maggio, looking across the Square to San Domenico, completed in 1736 and with beautiful baroque detailing:-
There were other good façades in the Square:-
Then we walked up a side street to the Via Cavour:-
Good neoclassical and baroque palaces:-
Side streets:-
The church of Montevergine was apparently much admired by Anthony Blunt:-
So, we walked back to the car where we were told it was unsafe:-
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
Its probably too late – but old Noto is remarkably atmospheric even if there is virtually no stone still standing.
Will go – we’re here for a week. Charles
Thank you for the suggestion which was much appreciated. Charles
After Hong Kong you are now in Sicily. How global trotter you are! I have never been to Sicily, and always intending to visit. Have a nice time there. Are you going to visit Catania and there about? My Italian friend who is a Florentine loves Sicily as his wife is a Sicilian. I envy you.
We’ve never been before either, so it’s a treat – all these baroque cities. Charles
Dear Toshio, As I hope you will have seen, we have now visited Catania and loved it. Charles
Me, too. I’ve never been to Sicily despite THE LEOPARD being one of my favourites novels, and films. Your photographs of Noto make me even more keen to go. It looks stunning. Thank you for yet another great blog.
Hope you read definitive articolo on English travellers in Sicily in yrs truly ‘s Evolution of the Grand Tour… xe
Will do when I get home as I’ve got a copy. Charles