Follow Rick Steves Noto Town Walk. If you don't stop, it'll take you 10 minutes.
Start at the Porta Reale, the royal gate. The pelican at the center top is a symbol of dedication to Ferdinand II, the Spanish/Bourbon king when the gate was built in 1838. The tower to the left is a symbol of strength and the dog to the right represents fidelity.
Piazza San Francisco all'Immacolata, a split level square divided in two, has a fountain at the lower level and a statue of the Virgin Mary on the upper square. The Church of San Francisco sits between the two.
The interior of the Church of San Francisco.
I love the tiny cars in Europe.
The Cathedral of San Nicolo sits in the Piazza Municipio. It's dome collapsed in 1996 due to lack of maintenance. It was rebuilt and re-opened in 2007.
The interior is modern, including this Croce Lignea, made of wood from shipwrecked boats carrying African refugees.
Across the street is the Noto City Hall (Palazzo Ducezio).
Via Corrado Nicolaci. On the 3rd weekend in May, this street is decorated with floral displays, the Infiorata di Noto.
The Palazzo Nicolaci on the left side of the street is an aristocratic townhouse with impressive balconies.
At the end of the street is the Church of Montevergini, which contains banners and costumes used by the various guilds for special occasions, such as Easter.
The Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the main street through the center of Noto.
The Church of San Domenico sits on Piazza XVI Maggio. The main architect of Noto, Rosario Gugliardi, is buried here.
Teatro Tina di Lorenzo was built in 1870. When it was built, it had neither a royal box nor seats for commoners--just room for aristocrats. More seats were added in 1920.
The end of the walk.
2022 04 18
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