Noto
--> Eremo di S. Corrado --> Convento della Scala --> Noto Antica
--> Testa dell'Acqua --> Castelluccio --> Baulì -->Palazzolo
After
leaving Marzamemi, and contìnuing along thè coast, you soon reach P ortopalo,
afìshing community which was possibly founded by thè Phoenicians and boasts
a little island with its castle, thè tunny- fìshing complex on thè lower
area and thè light-house stili lower on thè right. Thè marine enviroment
is stili intact and thè tunny-fìshing complex constitutes a splendid monument
to industriai archaeology. Thefìshingport, thè most important in Eastern
Sicily, has a busyfìsh market and is situated notfarfrom thè town. On
thè southern tip you can see thè "Isola delle Correnti" which is thè symbolic
division ofthe Ionie and Mediterranean seas. Thè Island o f Capo Passero
is approximately 1300 mts. long and 500 mts. wide and has an interesting
Swabon-Aragonese fort which was built to sight Sarac en ships. It was
destroyed and rebuilt many times. Gastro- nomie traditions are obviously
linked to thè fìshing industry; in thè area there are many beaches, hoteis,
camping sites and restaurants. To thè west ofP ortopalo thè swamps ofCuba
and Longarini, boggy areas similar to Vendicari but smaller in size, present
an interesting fauna, but at present they are notprotected areas. From
here you may like to deviate slightiyfrom thè itinerary and visit Rosolini,
a pleasant farming town with another interesting church and Town Hall
in Piazza Garibaldi; thè Triton Fountain in Piazza Masiniello and thè
famous Sanctuary of thè Sacred Heart. Thè sur- rounding area has many
traces ofpast ages, especially in thè Great Quarry of Rosolini, with thè
Quarry ofthe Holy Cross and thè rock Hermitage which are among thè most
important in Sicily and contain thè Bove Grotto and thè little Church
ofSt.Theodore, with beautifui frescoes. Thè Lazzaro Quarry with its'prehistoric
evidence and thè homonymous necropolis, thè Orsi Sepulchre and many other
remains are also well worth a visit. Going back towards Noto about 20
km. along thè provincial road on thè left you can see thè remains of thè
Roman Villa of Tellaro, a building which dates to thè late imperiai era,
and some Magnifìcent mosaics bave been found in it which are similar to
thè more famous ones at Piazza Armerina; they can be dated to thè 4th
century A.D. After five kilometres you reach thè city ofNoto, which was
rebuilt in thè area after thè destruction ofancient Noto in thè 1693 earthquake.
At thè entrance to thè town there is thè Royal gote, which dates back
to 1838, and a little further on you come to thè Church ofSt. Francis,
with its annexed convent. On thè left,facing thè Church, there is thè
Monastery ofthe Saviour with its monumentai tower. Further ahead, on your
left thè Church ofSt. dare contains a marbie statue ofthe Madonna with
child attributed to Antonello Gagini; then further on there is thè Town
Hall Square with thè Ducezio Palace, which was designed by thè architect
Sinatra; opposite thè palace we find thè Mother Church, which was completed
in 1776 and dedicated to St. Nicolo di Mira. It has an interesting f acade
which isflanked by two beli towers, and thè bronzo portai is of recent
work, thè three aisied interior preserves thè 5th century silver ark which
contains thè body ofSt. Corrado. Adiacent to thè Main Church there is
thè Archbishop's Palace, which was built during thè last century and on
its left you can see thè Landolina mansion ofSt. Alfano. Going up thè
Nicolaci slope you will find thè Nicolaci Mansion with its evocative Baroque
balconies ornateci by large brackets with grotesquefigures. At thè top
ofthe slope there is thè Church ofMontevergini. Another interesting church
you can find in Piazza Mozzini is thè Church ofthe Crucefìx, attributed
to Rosario Gagliardi; on thè incomplete front there are lions made from
calcareous stone which comes from ancient Noto. Interesting and inviting
is thè city's gastronomie tradition: among thè many dishes you can toste
is thè "ovenbaked" pasta, home-made ricotta cheese ravioli, sweet and
sour rabbit, snaiis (intuppateddi), thè almond cakes and mulberry or rose
flavoured ice-cream. Not to mention thè wine produced locally and thè
muscat of Noto.
