A week fully immersed in a magic place, where nature, culture and food converge, creating a unique and amazing experience. Our itinerary includes 2 hotels, allowing you to feel at home and explore the cultural and culinary offer of both Noto and Siracusa. The walks, from easy to moderate, will provide you with a meaningful overview of this territory, including the areas outside of the old towns, just as rich in terms of man’s presence and natural wonders.
Highlights
nature – protected marine and mountain area
archaeological remains – necropolis, temples, churches, tanneries, mills, catacombs
monuments – in Noto and Siracusa
wine and food – local wineries, cooking classes, culinary experiences
active holiday – walking, trekking, cycling
Arrival in Noto, welcome meeting to present the tour and distribute any material and documents.
Razed to the ground by the terrible 1693 earthquake, the ancient town of Noto was rebuilt on top of a plateau overlooking the Asinaro Valley, 10 km away from the original position, according to the Baroque style and modern urban planning principles. The town features bright, honey-coloured buildings, richly decorated, reaching their glory in churches, monasteries and noble palaces.
Noto is considered as the capital of the late Sicilian Baroque style and is one of the towns included in the UNESCO World Heritage Noto Valley.
Overnight in Noto.
Transfer from Noto to the reserve of Vendicari.
Within the reserve, you will stumble upon agricultural areas, saltpans, rocky coasts, beaches and Mediterranean maquis vegetation. The local biodiversity is also due to the quagmires – sheets of brackish and fresh water hosting numerous species of birds, stopping here during their migratory journeys from Africa and Northern Europe. The wildlife sanctuary also includes archaeological sites and remains, both ancient – Greek, Byzantine, Medieval – and more modern, like the tonnara (“tuna factory”) of Vendicari. The itinerary along the coast offers several opportunities for a swim in the beautiful little bays, with their golden beaches and crystal-clear seawater. The walk ends after the archaeological site of Eloro, at Noto Marina. Transfer back to Noto.
Overnight in Noto.
Distance: approx. 9 km – Elevation gain/loss: +50 m/-50 m – 2 h 30’
Transfer from Noto to the starting point, i.e. the “Durbo” neighbourhood.
The trail first takes you to Cava (canyon) del Carosello, where you can admire ancient caves that were once used as tanneries and watermills, powered by the Asinaro river. Such techniques, introduced in Noto by the Arabs, led to its great prosperity, together with the availability of water sources and game. There is still an impressive network of tanneries excavated in the rock within this area, characterized by lush vegetation and a timeless atmosphere. The water flowing along this valley creates some ponds into which it is even possible to plunge, for a truly revitalizing effect! From the valley, the trail climbs back towards Ancient Noto, where you can explore the remains of the town destroyed in 1693. Back to Noto on foot, downhill, along a minor road.
Overnight in Noto.
Longer version: approx. 15 km – Elevation gain/loss: +350 m/-430 m – 4 h 45’
Shorter version: approx. 14 km – Elevation gain/loss: +300 m/-400 m – 4h 15’
Transfer from Noto to the reserve of Cavagrande.
Downhill trail into the Cavagrande, literally the “grand canyon”, a nature reserve along the Cassibile river, which has gradually shaped the rock creating several creeks and ponds. On the north side of the canyon, a flight of stairs excavated in the rock is still visible, leading to the Grotta dei Briganti (“cave of thieves”): a spacious, semi-circular, natural cave including about 20 different artificially created “spaces” for living purposes. The landscape is amazingly luxuriant and the vegetation is both autochthonous and introduced by man (e.g. citrus and olive trees). At the bottom of the canyon, the Cassibile river forms a few small ponds, known as the laghetti (“small lakes”), a true cure-all for an ice-cold Summer dip or simply to lie on the rocks for a siesta next to the clear water.
Overnight in Noto.
Distance: approx. 11 k – Elevation gain/loss: +250 m/-240 m – 3 h 30’
Transfer from Noto to Siracusa.
A free day devoted to the exploration of Siracusa, the capital of the Magna Graecia, where the signs of a succession of civilizations are still visible, making it one of the most beloved and unique destinations in the whole of Sicily. Take a stroll on the island of Ortygia, the old town, discovering the remains of Greek temples, later used for different purposes, starting from the Cathedral. Then discover the Jewish Bath, the Bellomo Museum, the Puppet Theatre and the Fountain of Arethusa, the nymph representing the city. Keep strolling along the Marina and its sunlit cafés, for a tasty granita (slushed ice) since the early morning or to sip a glass of delicious local wine at sunset. Siracusa offers a lot to everybody: history, cuisine, nature and shopping – the choice is yours!
Overnight in Siracusa.
Transfer to Pantalica/Anapo Valley.
This extraordinary archaeological and natural area was officially established in 1997. It covers approximately 2,600 hectares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005. Walk along a stretch of the ancient narrow-gauge railway crossing the whole valley, which is extremely rich in vegetation and wildlife, but also bears many signs of man: the aqueduct, caves, rock churches and the spectacular necropolises. Then climb towards the so-called Byzantine Village, where you can visit the tombs turned into living spaces, as well as the church of San Micidiario. Reach the plateau of the Anaktoron (the Palace of the Prince), which used to be the only actual building, then walk downhill again, surrounded by thousands of necropolises dating back to the 12th-8th century b. C. Transfer back to Siracusa.
Overnight in Siracusa.
Distance: approx. 11.5 km – Elevation gain/loss: + 300 m/- 300 m – 4 h
Transfer to the Plemmirio peninsula.
This promontory on a stretch of coast near Siracusa has been a true crossroads of thousand-year-old civilizations and cultures, as testified by the concentration of man-related remains since pre-historic times (quarries, necropolises of the Bronze age with traces of a village nearby, long underground tunnel networks used as antiaircraft artillery during the Second World War).
The Maddalena peninsula, the old Plemmyrion celebrated by Virgil, marks the South border of Siracusa’s “big harbour”, which it overlooks, offering an evocative and strategic view.
Walk along the homonymous path along the coast, from south to north, ending with a spectacular view of the island of Ortygia. Return to Siracusa by boat, crossing the big harbour (weather conditions permitting).
Overnight in Siracusa.
Approx. 13.5 km – Elevation gain/loss: +30 m/-30 m – 3h 30’
Breakfast and departure.
Transfer Catania Airport – Noto € 45 pp
Transfer Siracusa – Catania Airport € 35 pp
Min. 2 pax
