As more travelers see Sicily as an integral part of an Italian holiday and look for places beyond Palermo, Taormina and the Aeolian Islands to visit, the beautiful cities and towns of the Val di Noto are turning up on a greater number of itineraries and enjoying a new buzz. Although they have been luring visitors since the days of the Grand Tour, these destinations offer the kinds of attractions in high demand today—authenticity, stellar artistic treasures and many foodie delights—without mobs of tourists (although things can bet busy during peak summer weeks).

“A vacation in Val di Noto provides a great balance for experiencing a bit of city life, historic architecture, seaside relaxation and Italian tradition all in one,” says Cassandra Santoro, founder and owner of Travel Italian Style, which specializes in custom travel planning in Italy. “Of course, throughout Sicily you can find these types of wonderful attractions, but the Val di Noto stands out for being so well set up that you can easily take it all in within a realistic time span.”