The Sicilian city famous for its Baroque architecture, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, is Noto.
The earthquake devastated southeastern Sicily on 11 January 1693, destroying or severely damaging towns across the Val di Noto region. Noto was rebuilt about 8 kilometres from its original site, allowing planners and architects to create a unified late-Baroque city rather than simply repair the ruins.
Local limestone gives Noto’s churches, palaces and balconies a warm golden appearance. Major landmarks include Noto Cathedral, Palazzo Ducezio and the Church of San Domenico. The city’s carefully ordered streets and theatrical façades helped earn the Val di Noto recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002.
A common mix-up is choosing Syracuse or Catania: both are important Sicilian cities with historic architecture, but Noto is especially identified with the post-earthquake Baroque reconstruction known as Sicilian Baroque.