My Noto Home

Noto has become my home from home. Living in England, with its unpredictable and too often dreary weather, I had long dreamed of a sunny escape.

Some might call me crazy, but in 2021, I purchased a home in Noto without ever visiting the property, city or island!

The week after the purchase, I hopped on a plane from London to Catania. This was my first visit to the island of Sicily, the city of Noto and the home I had purchased.

I arrived late in the evening and was welcomed by a lovely warmth. I was grateful that I had borne the cold in London and came in my shorts and T-shirt.

My Noto 'Project'

The following day, I collected the keys to my new home and visited it for the first time. I knew it was a 'project' purchased directly from an elderly lady who had lived there for decades.

The main room had been partitioned to create the smallest kitchen and bathroom imaginable.

The partition was removed as part of the renovation, and the beauty of the balconies, 4-metre-high vaulted ceiling and original flooring was restored.

The stairs to the second floor were a late addition. Halfway up, they had a turn where you had to duck under a beam. Later, this was replaced with a single flight of stairs into what I now call The Terrace Room.

Italy has a reputation for bureaucracy, and Sicily for full speed being slow! The renovation seemed to take forever. I was recommended an award-winning architect Beit Studio who focused on restoring the property's original features with all the modern benefits.

I engaged an Italian friend as my project manager, who has always gone above and beyond to help me. She has played the part of my Italian wife many times to get documents through on my behalf, LOL!

The builders were good but frustrating, as they tended not to read the architect’s plans. The work slowed when the build team got COVID-19 and again when it was discovered that the addition of the second floor and stairs had cut through the main building joists.

I visited Noto most months, adopting a local boutique hotel Sikelia Suites as my temporary home, and became great friends with the owners. I quickly fell in love with the people, the place, and the lifestyle. I visit every month or two for a dose of Sicilian living.

It was finished after 18 months of designing the plans, obtaining permits and building work! Now, it is my Noto home from home, and I’m delighted to share it with friends when I’m not there.

Books about Noto

From the beginning, I immersed myself in the local food and wine. I kept personal notes about where to go and what to do, which turned into notes to give to my guests. Then I noticed that I was capturing some rather good photographs of my experiences, too, so as an author and publisher, why not write a travel guide?

“Matt's Noto” was first published in 2022 by PublishU, and a new edition is released each year with the latest information about where to go in Noto and the surrounding region known as the Val di Noto.

My next project is a cookbook, "Matt's Sicilian Kitchen," featuring recipes I've learned from Sicilian neighbours, restauranteurs and chefs. It is a taste of Sicily you can enjoy wherever you are in the world.

Speaking in Noto

Most people speak English, but as a homeowner, I strongly believe in learning Italian as an expression of my respect for the people, place and culture.

So I'm a couple of years into learning Italian. Though languages don't come quickly to me, and my dyslexia doesn't help, I thoroughly enjoy speaking a little Italian.

Like many people, I started my language-learning journey on Duolingo. It was great for learning some words, but I lacked confidence speaking them. Later, I switched to a one-on-one tutor, whom I connected with via the iTalki App. We talk for 30 minutes five days a week.

I can now do the most important things, like ordering a meal and a bottle of wine in a restaurant, but I have much further to go.

And so my my adventure continues.

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