Many people confuse the historical center of Noto, a UNESCO heritage site, with Noto Antica, ancient Noto thinking that the two names refer to the same place. Looking at a map of the province of Syracuse you will notice both names just a few kilometers apart. Noto is the town that is inhabited today and boasts a splendid Baroque historic center. Noto Antica, on the other hand, is the site of the ancient city of Noto, which was completely destroyed by the great earthquake of 1693. The town actually had very ancient origins, existing as early as the Greek period. Some scholars have even suggested that Noto was the tow founded by Ducezio, the leader who united the Sikels in a revolt against the Greeks. What is certain is that Noto flourished in ancient times and then in the Middle Ages on Mount Alveria, and the town was so severely damaged by the 1693 earthquake that it was decided to move it a few kilometers away. Since the 17th century, the site has been sparsely inhabited, and as a result, the entire area is an extraordinary archaeological site that deserves to be studied and promoted along with the splendid natural area of Cava Carosello, where ancient tanneries still stand.
An admirable effort to promote and raise awareness is continuously carried out by the ISVNA (Institute for the Study and Promotion of Noto Antica), which also organizes the annual "Festa dell'Alveria" to revitalize the ancient site.
Festa dell'Alveria 2024 in Noto Antica
The 2024 edition of the event is subtitled "The Main Road of Noto" and will take place from September 19 to 22, 2024, and on October 4 and 5, 2024. The September dates will be held at the Noto Antica site, while the October dates will be held in Noto. From September 19 to 22, there will be artists in attendance and the 13th edition of the "Full Moon Symposium" and "Homage to the Gymnasium". The main event will take place on Sunday, with a parade featuring flag throwers, drummers, and jesters from the mountain gate along the main road. In Piazza Maggiore, there will be a reenactment of historical figures, an homage to the gymnasiarchs, and a performance of medieval music.
On October 4 in Noto, at the civic medieval museum, there will be a conference on "The Royal Trazzera Noto - Palermo, Historical Roads in Sicily", and on October 5, in the same location, the inauguration of the exhibition "The Return of the Restored Views of Ancient Noto" and "Fragments of Rediscovered Architecture".
For more information, you can contact the ISVNA or the municipal tourism department.
Visit Noto Antica with Hermes Sicily Tours
Hermes Sicily Tours offers guided tours and hiking excursions upon request, including half-day archaeological excursions to discover Noto Antica, full-day archaeological and naturalistic trekking to Noto Antica + Cava Carosello, or nature hikes to Cava Carosello, both in Italian and English. To book a guide, given that these are niche itineraries, it is necessary to contact us in advance at
Occasionally, we also offer special group tours to Noto Antica as part of our calendar of events (but only in Italian language), ranging from group guided tours to Noto Antica to group trekking in Cava Carosello and sunset tours combined with guided stargazing. Our calendar of events can be viewed on this page. The special events are held only in Italian.
