Modica Location Guide

Considered one of the Baroque pearls of the Val di Noto, Modica is a small town situated on the southern tip of Sicily. Its baroque personality is a consequence of the almost total reconstruction of the city after the earthquake that struck the Noto Valley in 1693. Corso Umberto I, the main street, is also called "the living room" of the city.

Modica features many churches and also many alleys where you can admire the decoration found on the balconies of old buildings. Smiling masks wrapped by acanthus leaves, moustached faces with feathered hats, disturbing vampires: these are some of the characters that will make you feel watched from above as you explore the streets of Modica.

10 Things to See and Do
Convento dei Padri Mercedari - Library and Museums
Church of Carmine and the Annunciazione by Antonello Gagini
Santa Maria di Betlem and the Chapel of the Sacrament
Excursion to the Cava d'Ispica
Swim or windsurf in the bay of Marina di Modica
Sbalzo district and its houses carved into the rock
Visit the house of the Italian writer Salvatore Quasimodo
Climb the 250 steps leading to the Church of S. Giorgio
Taste the typical chocolate and mpanatigghi, a local dessert made of meat and chocolate
Visit the neighbouring towns of Scicli and Sampieri

Events in Modica
Easter
Held every year on Easter morning, the celebration of the Madonna Vasa-Vasa is a big event for the inhabitants of Modica. People, crowded along the Corso Umberto I, wait all the day for the kiss between the Madonna and the Risen Christ. The two statues are brought on the shoulder by the faithful. A few minutes before the kiss, the Madonna widens and tights her arms, dropping her black cloak and showing the sky blue one. Surrounded by white doves, the Madonna reaches the Jesus - as always - at noon sharp.
Sweet Spring
Whenever you decide to visit Modica, it's impossible to resist tasting the typical modicana chocolate. We recommend to do it during the annual Eurochocolate, an event that provides guided city tours to taste her sweet masterpieces. The king of the event is the cocoa, which is also the subject of conferences and exhibitions and a source of pride for the master chocolatier modicani who work following the old Aztec traditions.

Local Food and Drink
Mustazzoli e Bucatoli
Each religious festival in Modica is accompanied by a typical recipe. If you choose to spend the Christmas period there you have to taste Mustazzola, cakes with minced orange peel and honey. Alternatively you can try the Bucatoli, biscuits baked in the oven and made with almonds, figs, sugar and honey. You'll recognize it for the characteristic shape of an S.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine
This elegant cherry red wine comes from vineyards in the Val di Noto and has the scent of wild berries and black cherry. It's perfect to accompany the taste of caciotta ragusana cheese, and also with sausages and spicy foods.

Spotlight on Cava d'Ispica
In this part of Sicily it's easy to come across natural chalky gorges called cave. Among the most interesting and famous is Cava d' Ispica. Nearby Modica, the Cava extends for 13 km, made up of caves that were once inhabited, with several frescoes on the rock and hundreds of niches.
The catacomb of Larederia (IV - V century A.D.) contains 464 graves, some in an underground tunnel that extends for 30 meters. Another gem of this charming place is the Castle Sicano, a fortress carved into the limestone and probably once inhabited by a Prince.

How to get there
Modica, Italy, is located just 16 km south of Ragusa, and is situated on the Iblei mountains.
By plane: The Catania Fontanarossa airport is 100 km from Modica, about an hour and three quarters by car.
By boat: The nearest port is in Catania and is connected daily with the major Italian ports.
By car: Freeway A19, Palermo-Catania. Palermo is about 3 hours and a half from Modica.
Others: Modica has a railway station reached from the main cities of Sicily. During the summer there is a bus service from the center of Modica to Marina di Modica ( Modica beach) and Sanpieri.