Free walking tours in Palazzolo Acreide and what to see

Must-sees

Palazzolo Acreide is a town in the Hyblaean Mountains, inland in the province of Syracuse, and one of the late baroque towns of the Val di Noto listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its centre has churches with baroque façades, such as San Sebastiano and San Paolo, and palazzi with balconies resting on brackets carved with figures. The mother church and Piazza del Popolo are the heart of local life.

At the top of the town is the archaeological area of Akrai, the ancient colony founded by Syracuse. There you can see a small Greek theatre, quarries cut into the rock and, a little lower down, the Santoni, reliefs carved into the stone for the cult of Cybele. In the centre, the Antonino Uccello house museum holds a collection of objects from Sicilian peasant culture.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Palazzolo Acreide. What is on offer is a private guided tour combining the town with Noto, another of the area's great baroque towns. The Akrai archaeological area and the centre are easy to explore on your own.

How long to spend

A relaxed day is enough for the baroque centre and the Akrai archaeological area: the archaeological site in the morning; the churches and the house museum in the afternoon. If you have two days, you can visit Noto or explore the villages of the Hyblaean Mountains, such as Buccheri or Ferla, and the Pantalica necropolis.

Where to stay

The historic centre has guesthouses and apartments in old buildings, with churches and restaurants within walking distance and plenty of peace at night. The surrounding countryside has agriturismi and rural houses among olive trees and stone walls, best if you travel by car. If you want more choice and the coast, Syracuse or Noto are less than an hour away.