After the Roman domination, Modica passed under the Byzantine rule. In 844, after a brief siege, Modica was conquered by the Arabs. With the arrival of the Normans in 1090, Modica became a center of vital importance for the southeastern part of Sicily. When, in 1270, Sicily fell into the hands of the Angevins, Modica participated in the rebellion of the Sicilian Vespers, driving the French out of the city. Read More [...]
The County of Modica was born on March 25, 1296, when Frederick II of Aragon, King of Sicily, gave the city to Manfredi Chiaramonte, as Count of Modica and Lord of Ragusa. For the next 500 years, the County of Modica became the largest, richest and most powerful feudal state on the island, being ruled at first by the Chiaramonte family, and then by the Cabrera family.
The area of the Val di Noto was hit by the earthquake of January 11, 1693, in which entire cities were razed to the ground, causing only in Modica about 3,400 deaths. The reconstruction of the city was fast and, by the turn of the century, Modica was alive again, dressed in beautiful Baroque clothes.
GEOGRAPHY: Modica is today a city of about 55,000 inhabitants, part of the Province of Ragusa, in Sicily. The city is situated in the Hyblaean Mountains, and consists of two districts - Modica Alta (Upper Modica) and Modica Bassa (Lower Modica). Modica is located 15 kilometers south of Ragusa, 35 kilometers west of Noto, 65 kilometers southwest of Syracuse, 95 kilometers southwest of Catania, 192 kilometers southwest of Messina and about 240 kilometers southeast of Palermo.
TRANSPORT: The closest airport is Vincenzo Bellini International Airport, located about 89 kilometers away, near Catania. To get to Modica directly from the airport, you can take one of the buses of A.S.T. (Azienda Siciliana Trasporti). The trip takes about two hours and a ticket costs 12€.
By train, you can get to Modica from Ragusa in about 20 minutes, from Noto in about 1 hour, from Syracuse in about 1 hour and a half and from Catania in about 4 hours. A train ticket from Ragusa costs 2.50€, from Noto is 5.10€, from Syracuse 7.60€ and the cheapest ticket from Catania is 10.20€.
LANDMARKS: The most important tourist attractions in Modica are the beautiful Baroque Cathedral of Saint George (Duomo di San Giorgio), Church of Saint Peter (Duomo di San Pietro), Church of Saint John the Evangelist (Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista), Garibaldi Theater and Castle of the Counts (Castello dei Conti) - the political and administrative seat of the County of Modica.
The best place to admire Modica from above is Pizzo Belvedere, a vantage point near the Church of Saint John the Evangelist. To get there, you have to climb a little, but your effort will be rewarded in full.