Modica

About this place

Modica is a Baroque town in the Hyblaean Mountains of south-eastern Sicily, in the province of Ragusa, about 8 km in a straight line south of Ragusa and 78 km south-west of Catania. It spreads over two levels, Modica Alta on the hill and Modica Bassa in the valley below, joined by long flights of steps and winding lanes. Modica has very old origins and for centuries was the capital of a powerful county that ruled much of this corner of Sicily. After the great earthquake of 1693 destroyed much of the region, the town was rebuilt in the late Baroque style, and together with seven other towns of the Val di Noto it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Its skyline is crowned by grand Baroque church facades at the top of monumental staircases, among them San Giorgio and San Pietro, and Corso Umberto I, the main street, is lined with palaces, cafés and shops. Modica is famous for its chocolate, made with an old cold-working method that gives it a grainy texture, and many shops offer tastings. The town is free to explore on foot, though the steps are steep. Viewpoints in Modica Alta give the best panoramas over the houses stacked across the valley, especially at dusk.