Top 10 Ancient Ruins in Val di Noto, Sicily

April 28, 2022 Layne Dawes

Discover the best top things to do in Val di Noto, Italy including La Fornace Penna, Complesso di Santa Maria la Vetere, Area Archeologica di Cava d'Ispica, Teatro Greco, Terme Achilliane, Chiesetta S. Nicola, Noto Antica, Tonnara di Vendicari, Anfiteatro Romano, Parco delle Grotte di Chiafura.
Restaurants in Val di Noto

1. La Fornace Penna

Scicli, Sicily Italy http://sampieri.it
Excellent
51%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 257 reviews

La Fornace Penna

2. Complesso di Santa Maria la Vetere

Via Santa Maria la Vetere, 95043 Militello in Val di Catania, Sicily Italy
Excellent
50%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8 reviews

Complesso di Santa Maria la Vetere

3. Area Archeologica di Cava d'Ispica

Contrada Cava Ispica S.P. Modica-Cava Ispica snc, 97015, Modica, Sicily Italy +39 0932 771667 [email protected] http://www.regione.sicilia.it/beniculturali/dirbenicult/database/page_musei/pagina_musei.asp?ID=52&IdSito=69
Excellent
36%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
7%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 242 reviews

Area Archeologica di Cava d'Ispica

4. Teatro Greco

Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily Italy
Excellent
45%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
4%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 214 reviews

Teatro Greco

5. Terme Achilliane

Piazza del Duomo, 95121 Catania, Sicily Italy +39 095 281635 http://www.museionline.info/comuni/terme-achilliane
Excellent
32%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
9%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 69 reviews

Terme Achilliane

Reviewed By Elena257 - Timisoara, Romania

Right next to the Duomo you can explore the underground world. Catania is basically built in layers after the eruptions, the Therme are so well preserved!

6. Chiesetta S. Nicola

Via Cava Ispica, Modica, Sicily Italy http://www.cosmoibleo.com/it/monumenti/chesetta-san-nicola/
Excellent
0%
Good
100%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1 reviews

Chiesetta S. Nicola

7. Noto Antica

Strada Provinciale 64 Monte Alveria, 96017, Noto, Sicily Italy +39 339 481 6218 [email protected] http://www.notoantica.info/
Excellent
55%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
6%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 247 reviews

Noto Antica

Reviewed By ExcursionToronto - London, United Kingdom

This was a really interesting visit to the ruins of the original city of Noto, destroyed by the earthquake of 1693. A new Noto was built further south on slopes of the Meti, a model of a rationally-planned baroque town. Noto Antica is situated on the heart shaped plateau of Monte Alveria. The advantages of this natural fortress were discovered in ancient times. Siculic, Greek, and Roman necropoli testify to continuous settlement here since the 9th century BC. Best to visit on a dry sunny day. Take: Food, water, swimwear, hiking boots. Getting there by car: drive via Santa Maria della Scala and park at the Porta della Montagna. The walk: Start at Porta Della Montagna where a panel with an overview map shows a plan of Noto Antica. A gravel road leads through the impressive town gate into the area of the ruined city. Only the bastions of the Torre Reale were able to able to withstand the tremendous force of the earthquake. Follow the level gravel road past the Torre Reale, a round tower from the Angevin era. You pass the overgrown ruins of houses , palaces and churches and come to a Junction 415m; 15 mins where a shrine to St Mary commemorates the devastating earthquake. (Descending to the right here you could cut short to the 30 min point in the walk.) Continue straight ahead for another 500m on the narrowing gravel road, then turn right and follow the cart track through the gap in the wall 415m/20 mins. (the road ahead continues for another 300m to the Ermo di S. Maria Della Providenza, not visible from here.) In less than 200m you reach an open field. Follow the cart ruts north across the pasture, passing though another gap in a drystone wall. After the second gap 405m/30 mins) a track coming from the 15 min point joins from the right. Turn left at this point and climb over the stile. You’re outside the old city walls now. Orleander, poplars and fig trees line the stream, and you can enjoy a birds eye view of the gorge from the ledge. Follow the path to the right, down into the canyon, the Cava del Carosello. Broad steps hewn into the limestone lead past an ancient guard house dug into the rock. At the bottom of the valley (325 m/40 mins) the crystal clear stream forms little pools, some big enough for a dip on a hot day. You could retrace your steps here to the Porta Della Montagna, but you can continue upriver. cross the river to the river and continue upstream. After a corpse of Eucalyptus, ascend the trail to the left, now passing a series of four flour mills. The trail broadens out. Don’t miss the turn off to the right after a couple of hundred metres! After crossing the dry valley floor, the path ascends in the shadow of the Mediterranean maquis and goes through a gap in a wall. 395 m/1hour 15 mins. Beyond the gap you meet a crossing mulattiera, which you follow downhill to the right. You cross another dry valley floor (with an animal feeding place cut into thr rock) and rise again. Climb over a stile 415 metres/1 hour 30mins, turn sharp left beyond the remains of a wall, and re- enter Noto Antica. The gravel path leads back to the Porta Della Montagna. 1 hour 40 mins.

8. Tonnara di Vendicari

Riserva naturale orientata Oasi faunistica di Vendicari, 96017, Noto, Sicily Italy http://www.riserva-vendicari.it/tonnara-vendicari/
Excellent
0%
Good
100%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1 reviews

Tonnara di Vendicari

9. Anfiteatro Romano

Piazza Stesicoro Ingresso gratuito, 95124 Catania, Sicily Italy +39 095 715 0508 http://www.facebook.com/ParcoArcheologicoCatania
Excellent
25%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
28%
Poor
9%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 415 reviews

Anfiteatro Romano

10. Parco delle Grotte di Chiafura

Cava San Bartolomeo, 97018, Scicli, Sicily Italy +39 0932 839111 http://www.aruttarironcarmelu.it
Excellent
36%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
4%
Terrible
24%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 25 reviews

Parco delle Grotte di Chiafura

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