Françoise Spiekermeier
Noto abounds in charming squares and alleyways lined with cafés and restaurants where you can stroll and lose yourself, baroque churches charged with mystery, palazzos unfolding in marvelous gardens behind heavy wooden doors, their facades laden with balconies decorated with wrought-iron interlacing, domed like "goose breasts". Here are our picks of the city's treasures of golden beauty
The baroque Palazzo Nicolaci transformed into a museum, via Nicolaci
www.notosicilia.it/cosa-vedere/palazzo-nicolaci/
-The stunning Palazzo di Lorrenzo-Castelluccio restored by Jean-Louis Rémilleux: palazzocastelluccio.it
-The magnificent studio of painter Sergio Fiorentino (contact him via instagram @sergiofiorentino)
The centerpiece of your summer wardrobe may be found at Santagatha Pozzilei, a fashionable concept store with accessories, home furnishings and lifestyle items in the church of Santa Agatha.
www.pozzilei.it/en/p/sant-agatha
To treat yourself to a silk piece by fashion designer and photographer Rosita Gia in her boutique gallery Archivio.
@archivio_official
Unearth a Sicilian antique at Grégoire Vermese, who carefully selects all his one-of-a-kind finds. A sure bet.
Via Cavour,34, Noto sr Italy 96017 , Italy
@proantic
Pack your suitcase to offer a home fragrance or a silk scarf from Ortigia, whose motifs are inspired by ancient mosaics.
www.ortigiasicilia.com
-Enjoy a dream vacation in one of Jacques Garcia's villas, whose signature Baroque style is instantly recognizable: https: //jacquesgarcianoto.it/
Enjoy 180-degree views from the contemporary hilltop Villa Casa Vera. https://www.thethinkingtraveller.com/italy/sicily/villas/casa-vera
The splendid Villa Tenuta Falconeri opens its doors, its large terraces and its swimming pool-beach also at the top of the hill, in a private estate planted with hectares of lemon trees. https://www.thethinkingtraveller.com/italy/sicily/villas/tenuta-falconeri
RESTAURANTS AND GOURMET MOMENTS
-A must: an Italian espresso accompanied by a pastry in the morning at the foot of the Chioscho della Cattedrale basilica, piazza Municipio.
Aperitivo at Caffe Sicilia, an institution here since 1892, where you can enjoy an aperitif and order a Spritz, a glass of Marsala, olives and savoury tiles, or a home-made pastry.
Ristorante Crocifi Noto: undoubtedly the best address in Noto, with a Michelin star.
Chef Marco Baglieri brilliantly reinvents the traditional cuisine of his ancestors
www.ristorantecrocifisso.it
On the beach, a delicious fresh salad and a cocktail in the shade of an umbrella at the Beach Club of theIl San Corrado Di Noto hotel, a member of Relais et Châteaux, which offers 26 comfortable suites in the Val di Noto, decorated in a refined style and built by local craftsmen using fine materials such as Modica stone on the floor, in the middle of an estate bordered by lemon and olive trees, set in a masseria, an ancient fortified farmhouse belonging to Prince Nicolaci.
www.ilsancorradodinoto.com/it/resort-sicilia-sul-mare/
–Le Quattro Sorelle: a wine bar and bistro offering slow food made with seasonal, locally sourced vegetables, exquisite pasta, and exclusively organic wines.
I Crociferi: nestled in a former monastery, this lounge bar has taken over the courtyard to set up tables in the half-light, adding a touch of mystery to the atmosphere of the musical evenings. Noto's only trendy address
@i_crociferi_noto/
