Elegant and comfortable base to explore Noto’s architectural splendours
You can
enjoy a spectacular view of the Baroque city of Noto, which is in the province
of Syracuse in Sicily, from the breakfast room at the Hotel Flora in Via Pola,
whose windows perfectly showcase the honey-coloured 17th century buildings in
the historic centre.
The modern, elegant Hotel Flora is perfect for
exploring the architectural treasures of Noto
Right in the heart of Noto, the hotel is
in a superb position for getting to know the beautiful city,
which was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2002 because of the amazing
array of Sicilian Baroque architecture
grouped together in one location.
The
comfortable, modern rooms at the Hotel Flora, with their immaculate bathrooms
and elegant contemporary furniture, are a perfect complement to the town’s
wealth of architectural treasures nearby.
It is a short
walk from the Hotel Flora, through a garden and along a tree-lined avenue, to Porta
Ferdinandea, the gateway to the town, where you will find more than 40 examples
of magnificent Baroque buildings to explore, including the Cathedral, palaces a theatre, and churches, all situated within a few streets of each other.
The medieval
city of Noto was destroyed by an earthquake in Sicily in 1693. It was decided
to rebuild Noto on its existing site and so the buildings in the centre were
all built within a matter of decades of each other, in the same beautiful Sicilian Baroque style.
Noto's Duomo - the Cattedrale di San Nicolò - is
just one example of the city's stunning architecture
The town is
sometimes referred to as Giardino di Pietra (Stone Garden) because many of the
buildings were constructed using a soft tufa stone which takes on a honey tone
in the sunshine.
The Hotel Flora was built in 2010 and offers visitors air conditioning, wifi and every modern
facility.
A generous buffet
breakfast is served between 7.30 and 10am in the breakfast room overlooking
the town.
Bus services to Siracusa (Syracuse) and Catania stop within a few yards of the hotel, which has a car park and its own bar. Noto's railway station is less than 15 minutes' walk away.
There are plenty of bars, restaurants and shops, plus a tourist office, within walking distance of the Hotel Flora.