Modica Travel Guide

This church, in Modica bassa, dates back to 1350 athough it was partially destroyed by the earlthquakes of 1613 and 1693. It was rebuilt as a monument to the late Baroque and is filled with polichrome marbles and ornate plasterwork.

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Modica is also the city of the Count`s Castle (Castello dei Conti), whose remnants consist of a 18th century tower and a more recent clock, both symbolically representing it. The Castle in Modica boasts an ancient and glorious history. The city, especially under the Norman, flourished to become the heart of a noted County governing a vast territory in the south-eastern Sicily. The castle, whose existence is attested to by some documents of the historian Placido Carrafa, was largely destroyed by a terrible earthquake in 1693. It housed the Governor Palace and three churches dedicated respectively to the Virgin Mary, S. Cataldo and S. Lorenzo, the last mostly used by prisoners being kept in the castle dungeons. According to Carrafa, a square temple dedicated to the god Sun was also enclosed within the castle walls. Recent excavations have brought to light outstanding finds and the staircase leading up to the main entrance. Today, a majestic clock-tower, of more recent construction, is the Castello’s dominant feature.

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The Baroque church of San Giorgio, in a dominating position at the top of a flight of steps, with a spectacular facade, hosting inside a 16th-century painting by Girolamo Alibrandi; on the floor of the transept there is sun-clock.

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I really enjoyed the pizza that I had hereeven though we ordered pepperoni [which was on the menu] but when it came it was green peppers. It was a take away pizza shop but it had tables and chairs on a patio at the front.

This board we found on a wall strolling along one of hundreds paths in Modica, it says that there are hidden cameras around so if somebody tortures or poisons Modica cats he will be punished. Cats are useful for chasing rats, they don`t leave around cola cans or beer bottles... I showed to my friend who lives in the town, she said that the story of hidden cameras might not be true, and it could be personal idea of a lady who takes care of cats in the city. but...you never know, better behave good!

Favorite thing: The town of the 100 churches is among the favorite tourist destinations in Sicily after Taormina, fortified by its position over a huge rock on two gorges where two streams Ianni Mauro and Pozzo dei Pruni (which do not exist any more today) joined into the Moticano river on the slopes of the Monti Iblei, dominating the whole Val di Noto. For its southern position and superb Mediterranean climate, it is renowned for producing the first vegetables and fruit of the season.
In 1693 it was largely destroyed by an earthquake, and reconstructed almost completely in the Baroque style, which pervades all the palaces and monuments, while the oldest part is rich of small alleys and streets, sided by ancient artisans' shops.

The town consists of a lower part (Modica Bassa) and a higher, more ancient part, Modica Alta, connected through 130-m tall Ponte Guerrieri. Modica was also the native town of philosopher Tommaso Campanella, and of 20th e century poet Salvatore Quasimodo, who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1959.

Also famous is the unforgettable Modican chocolate, still prepared with an ancient traditional technique.