Your Visit To Palazzolo Acreide

Palazzolo Acreide is one of eight towns in the Val di Noto region awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its late Baroque architecture.

Just a 30-minute drive from Noto, it is an ideal afternoon and evening out. If you get your timing right, you can start with a late light lunch, explore the city, and end with dinner at one of Palazzolo Acredie’s two top eateries.

I put the following address in Maps on my smartphone, which directs me to a street on the edge of the centre of the town where there is generally easy free parking… Via Nazionale, Palazzolo Acreide.

Patisserie with Award-winning Chef

As you leave the car, walk up Via Nazionale, and at number 5, you will discover Corsino. This patisserie has made sweet delicacies for the local community for over 150 years. The Pastry Chef Vincenzo Monaco was named the #1 pastry chef in Italy, so you can safely expect to be surprised and delighted by anything you order.

Corsino is also known for its arancino, which has a range of fillings. Recently, I learnt a trick about eating arancino. Turn the arancino upside down and eat it like an ice cream cone from the broad to the narrow end—it is so much easier! Eating the other way always results in the base falling to pieces, creating quite a mess!

This is the perfect place and moment for a late light lunch, whether you fancy something savoury, sweet or one after the other!

Basilica ‘San Sebastiano’

As you leave Corsino, walk across Piazza Pretura and up Via San Sebastiano. After 5 minutes, you will reach the main square, Piazza del Popolo. This square hosts an incredible church, the Basilica San Sebastiano, which is well worth a look around. If you are thirsty, there are a couple of bars where you can get refuelled.

Historic Residential Neighbourhood

Next, I recommend a fifteen-minute downhill walk through the historic residential neighbourhood. From the Piazza, locate Via Bando Superiore and begin walking down the hill, which twists and turns one way and the other. Whilst you might be tempted, don’t peel off the street until you come to Via Curiazi, turning right onto its cobbled path. Then turn left onto Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, which will take you down to Piazza Giovanni Nigro. You can explore the church, Basilica di San Paolo.

City and Valley Views

Now comes the twenty-minute walk back up through another part of the historic residential neighbourhood. Walk up Via Dietro Matrice, turn left onto Via Grotte and follow to the right. As you walk up the street, look back to where you have come to enjoy a beautiful view across the rooftops and back to the Basilica. There are also views out to the valley. When you reach the top, turn to the right to see another beautiful cobbled street.

Shopping and Refreshments

Cross over, follow Via Lombard, and turn left onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele. This is the town’s main street full of cafes, restaurants and shops, so take your time browsing. My favourite pit stop for a refreshment, whether alcoholic or gelato or granita, is Bar del Corso (Corso Vittorio Emanuele 18).

Ancient Greek Theatre

As you walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you will reach the main square, Piazza del Popolo, and it is just a 5-minute walk back to the car. From there, I recommend driving to the top of the town to visit the ancient Akrai Greek Theatre.

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