The Sicilian Baroque Experience

Aside from its wonderful holiday villas, Sicily is renowned for many cultural and historical treasures. Its trove of attractions can easily overwhelm, but if you consider exploring the island one aspect at a time, you can start with the beautiful Baroque style buildings that have endured the centuries.

The Architectural Treasures of Sicily

You can't walk more than a few metres in the picturesque town of Sicily without encountering a fine example of Baroque architecture. In fact, including some of its villas, Sicily’s Baroque town of Scicli boasts a wide range of stunning architecture from this era - from its churches and cathedrals to its historic palazzi to the smallest details displayed in an alley or cobblestoned back street. Take note though, that the experience can be far better if you do a little research on Baroque architecture so you'll be able to appreciate the details – because even the tiniest detail has a long history behind it. Explore the town on foot, strolling down beautiful streets like Via Francesco Mormina Penna on your way to the stunning Palazzo Beneventano. Visiting Scicli also places you in a great spot to move one to other sites in the southernmost tip of the island, such as the quaint fishing town of Marzameni or the Ville Romana di Casale’s fascinating 4th century mosaics near Piazza Armerina.

The Ceramics Haven of Caltagirone

Mention Caltagirone to an Italian and you’ll probably get a single word in response: ‘ceramics’. Indeed, the town has been famous for this delicate craft for centuries. Even now, aside from its lovely holiday villas, Sicily’s foremost purveyor of fine ceramics is still doing good business with the crafts that have made it so well-known. You can wander along any street in the town and see shops selling fine ceramics or workshops producing them - part of the fun is to see the artisans in action. The town’s daily life, however, is remarkable for its slow pace; there’s certainly no hurry, which is all the better for enjoying its attractions. A visit to Caltagirone would not be complete without taking the Majolica staircase - the Santa Maria del Monte Stairway that leads from the famous Duomo to the main piazza.

Noto’s Enduring Beauty and Traditions

The town of Noto is perhaps one of the most unforgettable Baroque sites you will ever visit. And, like the other towns in this list, Noto’s qualities are best appreciated in the finer details. For example, the stone used in building the grand Baroque style buildings throughout the town has a distinct pink colour that naturally glows under the sun. You don’t have to go too far to explore in Noto – the most beautiful of the old buildings are located along the main street, quite close to one another. Through the gorgeous architecture, this famous Baroque town boasts a certain intangible quality - a sense of flamboyance in its many curved balconies, cornices jutting out of heavily decorated walls, and the gargoyles that regard passers-by with otherworldly disdain. The town displays many of the embellishments that made the Baroque style a major turning point in European art and architecture.

No matter where you rent one of the excellent holiday villas, Sicily has a wealth of stunning attractions waiting to be discovered. The Baroque architecture of the island is just one aspect, but a very beautiful and important one at that.

Jonathan Magoni is Senior Manager of Cottages to Castles, a family owned company specialising in high quality holiday villas, apartments and cottages in Italy. If you're searching for spectacular villas, Sicily is the ideal destination. We also offer top accommodation in the Italian lakes, ski resorts or city centres. Discover Italy at your own pace and without time restrictions in our hand picked villas and cottages.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.