Borgo Alveria Noto, Sicily, Italy

Noto

Noto is not known as the pearl of Sicilian Baroque for nothing. But few know that, before the city rebuilt in the 18th century after the terrible earthquake of 1693, there was another Noto. Ancient scripts refer to it as Netum, an ingenious city erected on the ridge of Mount Alveria, a high plane inhabited since prehistory, as the numerous necropolis discovered in the surrounding area give evidence.Around 448 b. c. Ducezio, the King of Sicily, moved Noto from the hills of Mendola to Mount Alveria to protect his birth city from the Greek raids.

The ancient city was enclosed between two narrow gorges that made the place easier to protect.Nowadays, few parts of the eastern walls of the city and ruins of the ancient Portal are visible, as well as the Castle ruins. Through the 'Porta Aurea', you can walk though ancient streets, once crowded with busy people and now lost in a lush nature and marked here and there by more ruins. Recently, excavations brought to light curious and interesting details, su ch as the ancient castle's prisons with several stone engravings made by their prisoners.Mount Alveria is today a place full of historic and archaeological evidences of different eras: Sicilian necropolis, but also Hellenistic, Pre-Christian, Jewish, Byzantine, Arabian, Norman, Renaissance and Baroque ruins.

The whole area has become a very important archaeological site and it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.The geographical location of Mount Alveria allows to have easy access to other interesting architectural, cultural and naturalistic places. Driving on the winding country roads of the south-east Sicilian coast, you will find yourself soon captivated by its charm: the la te Baroque habitations of Scicli and Modica, placed on a wide plateau ploughed through amazing canyons; the scenic Marzamemi harbour, with its main piazzaheight: dip into the past; the wild and pure nature of Cava Grande Natural Reserve and the little lakes of Cava Cultrera in S. Corrado di Fuori valley; the archaelogical area of Eloro and the mosaics of Villa Del Tellaro; the Oasi Faunistica of Vendicari and its a mazing beaches. The latter runs for 8 Kms in the Noto gulf and it's one of the most important dump areas in Italy, a stop-over for many migratory birds such as herons, wading birds, flamingos and cormorants.