Excellence Luxury Villas · Val di Noto
Luxury Villa Rentals in Val di Noto
Villas and apartments with pools among the honey-coloured baroque towns and quiet beaches of south-east Sicily
As featured in
Golden stone, almond groves and a coast of its own
In January 1693 an earthquake flattened much of south-east Sicily. What rose in its place was a whole region rebuilt in the confident baroque of the day, in pale limestone that turns gold in the late afternoon. Eight of those towns, Noto, Modica, Ragusa and Scicli among them, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2002. The countryside between them is dry-stone walls, carob trees and almond groves running down to a long, quiet coast.
Our Val di Noto collection runs to 160+ properties, from villas with pools set among olive and carob trees to houses close to the sea near Vendicari and Calabernardo, and apartments with sea views around Modica, Scicli and Ispica. The largest have room for a family gathering.
This is a place for slow mornings, long lunches and an evening stroll through a baroque town. Here is how to choose where to base yourself.
Val di Noto at a glance
- Properties
- 160+ villas and apartments, with up to 14 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,400 to £6,400 a week, from around £2,800
- Best areas
- Noto and its coast, Modica, Scicli and Ispica
- Best time
- May, June, September and October; the Infiorata in Noto around the third weekend of May
- Getting there
- Catania airport, around 75 to 90 minutes from Noto by road; Comiso is closer to Modica and Ragusa
Browse all 160+ villas in Val di Noto
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Zisola Noto: 11-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Seaview & Pool – Val di Noto11 bedrooms
Palazzo Calamosche Noto: Spacious 11-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Sicily11 bedrooms
Villa Levante Corleone Noto: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Val di Noto4 bedrooms
Villa Amaranto Grotta Modica: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views in Val di Noto – Sicily9 bedroomsExplore south-east Sicily
Noto for its baroque centre and the beaches of Vendicari, Modica and Scicli for hill towns and chocolate, Ispica for the quieter south, with Syracuse and Ragusa close by.
A town rebuilt as a stage set
After the earthquake Noto moved to a new site a few miles from the old town and was laid out from scratch, which is why it feels so composed. Corso Vittorio Emanuele runs past church after church, and the steps up to the Cathedral of San Nicolò are where the town gathers in the evening. The dome collapsed in 1996 and the cathedral reopened in 2007, restored with care.
Just off the Corso, the balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci rest on carved horses, lions and grotesques. Each May, around the third weekend, the street below is covered in flower-petal pictures for the Infiorata.
Ask about Infiorata dates
Vendicari, Marzamemi and a canyon inland
South of Noto, the Vendicari nature reserve protects a stretch of coast with salt marshes, an old tuna fishery and some of the best beaches in Sicily, Calamosche among them. Flamingos and herons stop on the lagoons, so bring binoculars as well as a towel.
Further south, Marzamemi is a small fishing village whose piazza fills with tables on summer evenings. Inland, Cava Grande del Cassibile is a deep limestone gorge with natural pools at the bottom, worth the steep walk down when the paths are open.
Hill towns, gorges and a little detective work
Modica sits on both sides of a steep ravine, its Duomo di San Giorgio at the top of a long flight of steps. It is also famous for its chocolate, worked cold so that the sugar stays slightly gritty, an old method that goes back to Spanish rule.
Scicli is smaller and quieter. Fans of Inspector Montalbano will recognise its town hall, which played the police station in the television series. Near Ispica, the Cava d'Ispica is a long gorge riddled with rock-cut tombs and old cave dwellings, and Ragusa Ibla is a short drive away.
Almond granita, Nero d'Avola and long evenings
Breakfast here is almond granita with a brioche, and Noto's almonds are among the best in Italy. Pachino tomatoes come from just down the road, the local red is Nero d'Avola, and Moscato di Noto is the sweet wine to finish with. Fish is landed fresh along the coast.
May, June, September and October are the best months: warm, bright and quieter. July and August are hot, so a pool earns its keep. Our concierge can book wine tastings, a private chef, boat trips and tables in Noto and Modica.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Val di Noto
Villa Barocco Noto: Elegant 4-Bedroom Villa with Seaviews & Private Pools – Sicily4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £10,024 a week
Palazzo Scirocco Noto: Luxury 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Sicily5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £9,954 a week
Villa Levante Cala Vena Ispica: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Sea Views & Private Parking – Val di Noto4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £9,786 a week
Villa Meridiana Cassibile Val di Noto: 8-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Sea Views & Pools – Val di Noto8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £9,373 a week
Villa Maestrale Belvedere Val di Noto: Spacious 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Pool & Seaview – Val di Noto6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £9,219 a week
Villa Caricci Noto: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Tennis Court – Sicily4 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £9,100 a week
Villa Timpa Noto: Luxury 4-Bedroom Beachfront Villa with Pool – Val di Noto4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £9,079 a week
Villa Levante Mose Val di Noto: Luxury 7-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Val di Noto7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £8,484 a weekWhy book your Val di Noto villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
The Val di Noto's villas are scattered across farmland, hillsides and coast, and we know which put a beach within a short drive and which are close to a town for dinner. With 160+ properties in Val di Noto, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Wine tastings, a private chef, boat trips along the coast, guided walks in Vendicari and Cava Grande, restaurant reservations, car hire and transfers from Catania or Comiso. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Val di Noto?
Noto and the countryside around it make the most central base, with the Vendicari beaches close by. Modica and Scicli suit those who want hill towns and food, and Ispica is quieter, close to the southern coast.
When is the best time to visit the Val di Noto?
May, June, September and October are warm and less crowded. July and August are hot and busy on the coast. Noto's Infiorata flower festival takes place around the third weekend of May.
Which towns in the Val di Noto are UNESCO-listed?
The Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto were listed in 2002: Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and Scicli, all rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Val di Noto?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Val di Noto cost?
Across our 160+ villas in Val di Noto, weekly rates typically range from £3,400 to £6,400, with the most affordable from around £2,800 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
Which airport is closest to the Val di Noto?
Catania airport has the most flights and is around 75 to 90 minutes from Noto by road. Comiso airport, near Ragusa, is closer to Modica and Scicli but has fewer flights. A hire car is all but essential.
Are there villas in Val di Noto for large groups?
Yes. Our Val di Noto collection includes properties with up to 14 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
Explore More Destinations
Find your villa in Val di Noto
160+ villas and apartments in the Val di Noto, booked direct with our concierge on hand