Royal gate

An evocative symbol of Noto

Located in the historical centre of the city, the Royal Gate of Noto is one of the most emblematic monuments of the Sicilian Baroque. Built in the 19th century, precisely in 1838, at the behest of the Marquis of Canicarao, it was initially also called Porta Ferdinandea. The Marquis, whose noble palace is still in Via Cavour, wanted to build it to celebrate the visit to Noto of King Ferdinand II of Bourbon, ruler of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The project was entrusted to the Neapolitan architect Orazio Angelini, who opted for a neoclassical style. For a long time, the Royal Gate was the main entrance to the city.

It is characterised by a large central arch surmounted by a tympanum on which the coat of arms of Noto and the Canicarao family are present. At the sides of the arch there are two pillars and three sculptures stand out on the pedement: a tower, representing the strength of the city, a Cirneco dell’Etna, symbolising fidelity, and, in the centre, a bird, seen as either representing a pelican, symbol of abnegation, or a stork, the emblem of fertility.

Behind this wonderful monument you will find the Noto Public Garden, where you can relax among colourful flowers and palm trees and admire the marble busts of famous local personalities.