The Land of Hyblea

Sicily, with a surface of 25,11 km2, is Italy’s biggest region.

And if you are planning a holiday here, the first thing to do is choose an area of the island to visit, or better yet a “fortification”, otherwise you run the risk of going from one point of the island to the next without actually taking in the atmosphere of the island’s history and culture.

The Valley of Noto, situated in the southeastern part of the island, includes the provinces of Ragusa, Siracusa and part of the provinces of Caltanissetta, Enna and Catania.

This corner of Sicily was the first part of the island to come into contact with the Near East and Greece, and it is here where the Great Mother of Hyblea, the goddess of fertility, hides.

It is in Hybla where the Sicilians of prehistoric times consecrated their villages to the top of the tablelands, and at least three belong to the Hybleas of Greek-Roman Sicily.

Ragusa Ibla, the heart of the Valley of Noto, is the only town to have reclaimed the old name.

No matter where the traveller goes, from Ragusa Ibla to Palazzolo Acreide and as far as Pantalica, he or she can find that atmosphere of history and culture.

On June 26th, 2002 UNESCO included among its World Heritage sites eight late-baroque towns of the Valley of Noto: Caltagirone, Catania, Militello Val di Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa e Scicli.

Besides the Baroque towns and the sea, there are numerous cattle-tracks that lead to inviting hardworking farms, outlined by long stone walls, curious stone cones and hundred-year-old olive trees, all immersed in a countryside just ready to be explored.

When leaving the backcountry, you can easily reach the coast and the sea: from the shore of Randello, flanked by a shady pine forest, up to Donnalucata through Punta Secca and Marina di Ragusa, and even further out is the old fisherman’s hamlet of Marzamemi and the Reserve of Vendicari…

Let yourself go!