Top 5 Ancient Ruins in Noto, Sicily

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.