The Baroque towns of the Val di Noto: when art marries beauty

Since 2002, these eight centres have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, but not everyone knows that they represent a true example of resilience. In 1693, an earthquake razed them to the ground and in 1700 they were entirely rebuilt following the architectural and artistic criteria of the Baroque style. A courageous restart today rewarded with increasingly significant influxes of tourists, also celebrated by cinema and television series, starting with Il Commissario Montalbano, which has turned these places into an immense open-air set.

As you walk through the historic centre of each of these towns in south-eastern Sicily, you'll find yourself faced with grand, elegant buildings, churches embellished with ancient artworks, and façades that curve through the air, adorned with sculptures. A coherent style, but one with some differences. Take the construction materials, for example: while Catania favours lava stone, other towns prefer the honey-coloured hues of local rock. Ready to set out on a tour of the eight capitals of Sicilian Baroque?

An ancient historical centre of the city of Ragusa, Ragusa Ibla is famous for its more than fifty Baroque churches, among which the sumptuous Cathedral of San Giorgiostands out. Perched on a flight of steps, it dominates the square and enjoys increased notoriety thanks to the TV series The Commissioner Montalbano which has set many glimpses of Vigata here.

Although it is a picturesque town built on a plateau carved by canyons, it may be that the reason you want to visit Modica is something else and has nothing to do with the Baroque. In fact, delicious chocolate is produced here, which, thanks to special "cold" processing, ensures that the sugar does not melt, merging completely with the cocoa solids and giving the delicious bars an unmistakable texture.

You will certainly be fascinated by the attention to detail of its façades, churches and noble residences. Don't miss the church of Santa Maria del Monte, the famous staircase of the same name, theCattderale and the Basilica di San Giacomo, but don't forget to visit the Museo regionale della ceramica di Caltagirone, which houses magnificent examples of albarelli, flasks, bowls and orci, i.e., the pharmaceutical-use vases made from local ceramics.

The original urban plan of this town was faithfully reproduced in its late-Baroque reconstruction and is a triumph of beauty, so much so that it is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Sicily. Don't miss out on a visit to the church of Santa Maria della Stella, which houses the Nativity by sculptor Andrea della Robbia, and the church of Santa Maria la Vetere, with its 1506 entranceway attributed to Antonello Gagini. 

After a devastating earthquake, this town was rebuilt on an entirely new site, on two levels. If you begin your adventure on the sloping hills of the newest area, you can take beautiful photos of the ensemble of Baroque buildings and streets. It hosts many treasures, but its most renowned are the Palazzo Ducezio town hall and the Noto Cathedral of San Nicolò, superbly photographed with its spectacular staircase. 

Yet another completely reconstructed jewel, this town offers the splendid Piazza del Duomo, the Palazzo degli Elefanti ('Elephants Palace') and the Fontana del Amenano Baroque fountain, and the Via dei Crociferi, a monumental 18th-century thoroughfare.

A triumph of churches and noble buildings, with an urban panorama of stunning visual impact, so much so that it was selected as the main set of the Il Commissario Montalbano series. Don't miss the facade of Palazzo Beneventano, with its immense artistic and architectural value, the Town Hall or the Vigata police station, the ancient Cartia Pharmacy and the beautiful Baroque churches.

A town with Greek origins and a medieval section. Its Baroque gems include the Church of San Sebastiano with its spectacular staircase, the Basilica of San Paolo with its towering white façade, and the beautiful buildings of Corso Vittorio Emanuele.