Modica is a baroque town located in Val di Noto, in the southeast of Sicily. In 2002 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the Neolithic age, it was the capital of a powerful county, boasting a rich tradition of culinary specialties and a great artistic and cultural heritage. Today, Modica is well known for the production of its typical chocolate, which has Aztec origins.
The historic center, which has been entirely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, is composed of two big districts: Modica Alta and Modica Bassa. Today, walking through the streets of Modica means walking in history, through late baroque palaces, churches, majestic staircases and great artworks.
The countryside of the area of Modica, characterized by a network of dry-stone walls marking the limits of each plot, is scattered by carob trees, olive trees, prickly pears and gives very suggestive landscapes.
Modica is the perfect place for your holidays in Sicily, an excellent starting point to visit the baroque towns of Val di Noto and swim into the limpid waters of its coast rich in golden beaches.
The city center has a unique structure and extends along a valley to clamber then the surrounding hills. In the limestone rocks of the hills, which are typical of this territory, the inhabitants “dug” their houses and graves during centuries, so much so that today there are almost 700 caves.
Visit the necropolis Quartiriccio, in the historic center, and the district Vignazza, with a few tens tombs, dug into the rock, dating back to the 2200 BC. The historic center is a maze of little houses, tiny streets and long staircases enveloped around the spur of the hill Pizzo, on which the castle stands. The main churches, that is the Cathedral of San Giorgio and the Church of San Pietro, do not overlook usually over a square, but over a majestic and spectacular staircase climbing up the slopes. The main architectural style is the late baroque.
Sicily is the largest of the Italian islands, separated from the Continent by the Strait of Messina and washed by the Ionian, the Tyrrhenian, and the Mediterranean Seas. It is a true gem of Southern Italy and is a place with abundant nature and rich history and traditions along with outstanding architecture. Nature here seems to have embraced all its versions: mountains, hills, and above all the most magnificent azure sea, with its crystal-clear water and the impeccable beauty of its colorful seabed. Sicily also involves three volcanos, with the most famous being Etna which adds one more color to the unique palette of this mythical island.
The birthplace of the Roman Empire and Renaissance, Italy, showcases many of the world’s greatest artworks, architectural buildings and over the top gastronomical proposals. This is the country where the word “style” expresses the whole nation. Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country; among them are Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Michelangelo’s David and Sistine Chapel and da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
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