Local Guide
Our favourite restaurants, unmissable sights, day trips worth the drive, and the history and culture that make this corner of Sicily so unforgettable.
From turquoise coves to wild reserve beaches and full-service lidos, here is our complete local guide to the best beaches near Noto - every one within a 25-minute drive of Casa Bandello.
View the guideStep away from the grand monuments and immerse yourself in the quiet, lived-in heart of Ragusa Ibla. In the second part of our self-guided tour, we abandon the map to wander through authentic residential streets, discover hidden aristocratic palaces, and taste the traditional flavors of the Hyblaean plateau.
View the guideMost visitors first encounter Ragusa Ibla from above. From the viewpoints of Ragusa Superiore, the old town appears almost unreal: a cascade of honey-coloured stone tumbling down the hillside beneath the great dome of San Giorgio.
View the guideThere are places in Sicily that demand your attention immediately. And then there is Marzamemi.
View the guideIf the first half of a day in Ortigia is often shaped by grand piazzas, ancient temples, and elegant streets, the second half reveals something altogether different.
View the guideThere are places in Sicily that impress immediately through grandeur, and then there are places that reveal themselves slowly. Ortigia belongs firmly to the latter.
View the guideIn the first part of this guide, we explored Siracusa's great archaeological heart: the theatres, quarries, catacombs, and monuments that reveal the city's extraordinary ancient past. Yet Siracusa continues to surprise those willing to look a little further.
View the guideWhen guests staying with us at Casa Bandello ask where they should venture beyond Noto, there is one destination that almost always makes its way to the top of our list: Siracusa.
View the guideHidden away in the Iblei Mountains, roughly 650 meters above sea level, Palazzolo Acreide is one of the oldest and most fascinating towns in the Val di Noto.
View the guideScicli is not merely a town; it is a geological and architectural symbiosis where limestone cliffs and human creativity form a unity so seamless it remains a rarity even among UNESCO World Heritage sites.
View the guideCaltagirone, a cornerstone of Sicily’s UNESCO-listed Val di Noto, is a monumental blend of Late Baroque architecture and a millenary ceramic tradition, epitomized by the iconic majolica-tiled Scala di Santa Maria del Monte and a vibrant cultural identity forged in clay and history.
View the guideRising in dramatic tiers from the canyon floor of the Hyblaean Mountains, Modica rewards slow exploration with layers of Late Baroque architecture, ancient rock-cut history, and the singular taste of its Aztec-derived chocolate.
View the guideOne of Sicily’s most spectacular events, the Infiorata di Noto, transforms the UNESCO World Heritage city of Noto into a sea of flowers every May. The focal point of the event is Via Nicolaci, where, among Baroque palaces and ornate balconies, a huge artistic carpet made of living flower petals comes to life.
View the guideIf you truly want to understand the rhythm of life in this corner of Sicily, you must set aside one Saturday morning to leave the baroque elegance of Noto behind and drive ten minutes toward the coast. While Noto is a masterpiece of stone and silence, Avola is a town of movement, flavor, and sound. Every Saturday, the streets around the central hexagon transform into a sprawling open-air theater of commerce.
View the guideNoto was destroyed in the devastating earthquake of 1693, bringing an ancient city to an abrupt end. Rather than rebuild on its ruins, its inhabitants chose to begin again on new ground. What emerged was one of Europe’s most complete and luminous expressions of Baroque urban design.
View the guideIn July 1943, Operation Husky landed 160,000 British, American, and Canadian troops on Sicily's southeastern shores—a force larger than D-Day. This in-depth 3-day itinerary traces the landing beaches, war cemeteries, and the Cassibile armistice site, with Noto as your year-round basecamp.
View the guideStep into Noto, Sicily’s golden Baroque masterpiece, entirely rebuilt in perfect architectural harmony following the devastating 1693 earthquake. Wander along the elegant Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where warm limestone façades, grand staircases, and breathtaking squares create a cinematic urban landscape. Join our self-guided walk through this sunlit, UNESCO-listed town to discover why it remains one of Europe's most captivating destinations.
View the guideAs a masterpiece of Late Baroque urbanism rebuilt after the devastating 1693 earthquake where meticulously planned architecture, local culinary traditions, and a rich cultural identity combine to create an enduring symbol of Mediterranean resilience and beauty.
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