In the fall of 2023 we took a magical trip to Sicily, only our second trip to Italy. We spent a total of 8 days roaming the countryside while based in Noto, a Unesco World Heritage Site and small town near the south-eastern coast of the island. Near Syracuse and the water, Noto is a fantastic location where you get the best of Sicily: Architecture, culture, great food, and the ocean. From Noto we explored The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Syracuse, and Ragusa & Modica. Not shown here but no-less spectacular were Catania, San Lorenzo on the ocean, and Rosalini.

Noto

An Airbnb just outside of this small town, in the middle of an olive grove, served as our home base. With 2 bedrooms, a shared bathroom, a kitchen and a pool with a view, Villa Vacanza was the perfect place to relax and prepare for island adventures! It even came with a new cuddly, furry friend Sandy!

The Valley of the Temples (Agrigento)

So, it’s not a valley. But you can see valleys from the summit of this amazing ridge where a dozen or so ancient Greek temples are situated along a narrow road with amazing views into history and the sea. This magical space provided breathtaking vistas with ruins in planned sight-lines that can inspire and awe even the most jaded traveler who’s “seen it all!” Agrigento is situated on the south-western coast of Sicily and a 4 hours drive through amazing switchbacks, changing elevation from sea level to 2-3,000 feet in minutes, from our home base of Noto.

Syracuse

This bustling, cultural hub is a must see when visiting southern Sicily! The historic center is located on an island, separated by the mainland by a narrow canal connecting the Ionian Sea with the Bay of Syracuse. This town was filled with narrow alleys to explore and a grand, central plaza with municipal and religious buildings – an architectural gem!

Modica & Ragusa

Our third trip out from our base included these two gems, also Unesco World Heritage Sites. Hint: You can’t drive 50 miles in Sicily without hitting a Unesco site.

Modica is at the base of the mountain that hosts Ragusa, so it’s a natural pairing. We spent the morning in Modica shopping and ate lunch there. Modica is the cosmopolitan sister to Ragusa. It’s fast-paced but beautiful, with little nooks and alleys that are worthy of a Hollywood movie. Ragusa is perched on a mountaintop with quaint shops and majestic churches. We ate a second lunch near the Duomo Di San Gorgio before heading home through the amazing country farm roads towards Noto.