Travel to MODICA? Discover One of the Most Beautiful Towns in Sicily

HISTORY: The first settlement in the area of today’s Modica dates back to the Copper Age, a period ranging from 3,200 to 2,200 BC. Later, given the proximity to the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia, the city became Hellenized. In the 3rd century BC, the Romans conquered Modica, along with its allies, Noto and Syracuse.

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.

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Church of San Domenico
Modica, Sicily

The Church of San Domenico, known also as the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario, is a beautiful church in Modica, located near the Town Hall of the city, in Piazza Principe di Napoli. The church is one of the few buildings that remained intact after t Read more [...]
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Duomo di San Pietro
Modica, Sicily

The Church of San Pietro (Duomo di San Pietro) is a beautiful Baroque church in Modica, dedicated to Saint Peter. SHORT HISTORY A first church was built on this place between 1301 and 1350, but the exact date remains unknown. A document from 13 Read more [...]
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Teatro Garibaldi
Modica, Sicily

Teatro Garibaldi is a theater in Modica, located on Corso Umberto I, about 200 meters away from the Duomo di San Pietro. SHORT HISTORY The theater was born in the second decade of the 19th century, from the merging of a warehouse and a palace, Read more [...]
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Castello dei Conti
Modica, Sicily

Castello dei Conti (Castle of the Counts) is a fortification built on a rocky spur in Modica, which was for centuries the seat of political and administrative power of the County of Modica. SHORT HISTORY The Castle of the Counts is mentioned fo Read more [...]
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Church of San Giovanni Evangelista
Modica, Sicily

The Church of San Giovanni Evangelista is a church dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, located in the upper part of Modica, at the top of the Pizzo Hill, in the highest point of the city. SHORT HISTORY A first church was built on this place Read more [...]
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Modica Cathedral of San Giorgio
Modica, Sicily

The Cathedral of San Giorgio (Duomo di San Giorgio) is the cathedral of Modica, dedicated to Saint George. The church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the most prominent examples of the Sicilian Baroque. SHORT HISTORY Read more [...]
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Dimora Birulla
Modica, Sicily

Dimora Birulla is a bed and breakfast located in the historical center of Modica, only 150 meters from the Duomo of San Pietro Read more [...]
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Casa Vialonga
Modica, Sicily

Casa Vialonga is an apartment in Modica, located about 170 meters from the Cathedral of San Giorgio and about 260 meters from Read more [...]
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Oro Hotel
Modica, Sicily

Oro Hotel is a 3-Star hotel in Modica, located only 100 meters from the Duomo di San Pietro and about 600 meters from the Cath Read more [...]
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Modica

Location Description

Places to SEE

Castello dei Conti

Modica Cathedral of San Giorgio

Places to SEE

Church of San Domenico

Duomo di San Pietro

Teatro Garibaldi

Castello dei Conti

Church of San Giovanni Evangelista

Modica Cathedral of San Giorgio

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Places to SLEEP

Dimora Birulla

Casa Vialonga

Oro Hotel

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NEARBY CITIES

Catania

Modica

NEARBY CITIES

Syracuse

Palermo

Modica

Taormina