From Siracusa: Marzamemi and Noto Audio-Guided Tour

The total tour time was advertised as 7 hours (10:00 - 17:00). It actually lasted for only 6 hours (10:00 - 16:00). Whereas there were 2 hours to look around Marmazemi, there were only 2 hours to look around the far bigger, beautiful city of Noto. We would have expected much longer in Noto, at least 3 hours as advertised. Indeed, Marmazemi was really not worth visiting!

I guess it made it nice and easy to travel to these places. However, a very expensive way of doing something you could do by public transport yourself. Packed into a van with a driver who didn’t seem to be terribly bothered about his passengers. We were very hot in the back and really jammed in. He didn’t really give any indication of which way to walk when we got to places. Luckily a wonderful Maltese lady was able to interpret for us. Totally understand that not everyone should have to speak English but maybe the company needs to provide some sort of written material or advice on which way to go when you get to a place. We were taken initially to a restaurant that was closed. The audio guide was pretty average. All round disappointed despite lovely towns we visited.

The guide did not speak any English- he did not play the recording in English but only Italian for the majority of the tour. He did not offer any local knowledge or tips. He parked, pointed in direction of information centre and said 2hours!! It was very disappointing.. The tour was supposed to be 7 hours and it was only 6hours. It was a very expensive taxi ride…. Appreciate you addressing my issues …

This could have been better. The office where we were to meet was completely torn apart as they were doing work, and no one from any tourist service was there. At one minute before starting time a van arrived and we got in. The driver was only a driver and only spoke Italian. He drove exceedingly fast which eventually we mentioned to him. The audio guide was a voice in 4 languages telling a little about Marzamemi and then Noto, but was not pleasant to listen to. After our two hours in Noto the driver took us back to the meeting point in Syracuse, less than six hours after we started. A human guide would have transformed this tour!