Urban regeneration project for “Piazza Belvedere” at Lido di Noto
The regeneration project for the Lido di Noto reinterprets the coastal landscape as a public, cultural and tourist infrastructure. The project covers an area of approximately 21,000 square metres spanning Piazza Colonia, Viale Lido, Piazzale Lido and the Belvedere of the former Hotel Eloro — areas which, in the 1920s and 1930s, were conceived by the architect La Grassa as a Mediterranean promenade overlooking the sea. Over time, this system has lost its continuity and spatial quality due to unauthorised building along the coastline.
The project restores the centrality of public space through the almost complete pedestrianisation of the waterfront, transforming the seafront into a continuous sequence of pathways, green spaces, resting areas and squares such as Piazza Colonia, a welcoming urban space; Piazzale Lido, the large square for events, seasonal activities and widespread social interaction; and the Belvedere, a contemplative and panoramic spot, revitalised through a new monumental entrance that re-establishes continuity, via terraced green spaces, between the urban level and the coastal landscape.
The Belvedere regeneration project, recently completed, is not merely an urban intervention but a symbolic gesture that restores identity to a marginalised site. The area, once occupied by asphalt surfaces, becomes a pedestrian space connected to the coastline via a large central staircase which, like the womb, opens up to a new life and guides the gaze towards the sea. A ship beached on the coast, its bow pointing towards the horizon, evokes the journey of Ulysses.
At the centre stands an amphitheatre, inspired by the ancient colonies of Magna Graecia, intimate and tranquil, designed as a place for gathering and contemplation, where the sunset becomes a daily spectacle in harmony with the Mediterranean landscape. The new staircase, wide and dramatic, is flanked by sloping sandstone walls that welcome visitors and lead them towards the square through green terraces, Modica stone walls and Mediterranean vegetation.
Greenery becomes both a climate-regulating feature and a space for socialising. Accessible paths and ramps ensure barrier-free access, whilst the new lighting enhances the routes and creates an intimate atmosphere. The Belvedere thus returns to being a place to be experienced, where architecture, nature and memory come together overlooking the sea.
The new promenade, flanked by a cycle path and rows of trees, becomes a landscape feature capable of combining slow mobility, climatic comfort and an enhanced appreciation of the seascape. “A green stretch of almost one kilometre” guides visitors along the coastline through Phoenix dactylifera and Metrosideros excelsa, which provide shade, environmental comfort and a visual identity.
Local materials, Modica stone paving, sandstone walls, integrated seating and clean lines create a unified aesthetic that is contemporary yet deeply rooted in the character of the place. The project thus proposes a new vision of coastal tourism: one not based merely on seaside recreation, but on the creation of an inclusive, accessible and recognisable public landscape, capable of restoring the sea’s role as a civic and cultural space for the city.
