Surroundings

What to see in Modica, discover Sicily.

Name: Modica Beach Resort
Address: Via del Laghetto ang. Via Taormina, Modica, Rg, 97010, IT
Telephone: +39 0932/1846391
Price range: $$

Modica Beach Resort is in an area steeped in history. Here you can travel through time: from Magna Graecia to the Baroque and then reach the present day and find yourself on the set of the fictional Commissioner Montalbano.

During your stay in Marina di Modica there are many things to see. Each one of them is a precious gem to set in your holiday memories.

Noto: the pearl of the Sicilian baroque Modica: the art of baroque and the art of chocolate The Castle of Donnafugata Ragusa: the "living room" of Sicilian Baroque Marzamemi and the nature reserve of Vendicari The locations of Commissioner Montalbano

Noto: the pearl of the Sicilian baroque

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Noto is the capital of Baroque and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.
The city is perched on a plateau covered with citrus groves.

Enter Noto through Porta Reale, so you are in front of the main street that crosses the entire historic centre: Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Follow it for a hundred meters. On your left is the Church of Santa Chiara. Enter the adjoining former convent of the Poor Clares and look out onto its panoramic terrace to admire the imposing Cathedral of Noto and the historic centre.

The Cathedral of Noto or rather the Basilica of San Nicolò, has a wonderful late baroque facade. The warm colours of the limestone with which it is built, at dusk, are set on fire creating a unique feeling. In front of the steps of the Basilica, stands in all its beauty and grandeur, the elegant Palazzo Ducezio, seat of the Town Hall of Noto.
Within walking distance, you will find Palazzo dei Principi Nicolai, another magnificent jewel of Baroque art. The balconies are an interlacement of wrought iron works and wonderful shapes carved in stone. The luxurious interiors of the palace are also very attractive.
The squares of the city further embellish the urban fabric giving you the opportunity to admire what surrounds you.
These are just some of the must-see places to visit in Noto but the city holds hidden treasures in every corner. So what are you waiting for? Come to discover them!

Modica: the art of baroque and the art of chocolate

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The town of Modica rises on top of a canyon. Even today, you can still admire the suggestive and elegant noble palaces, a sign of its ancient wealth. These alternate with marvellous buildings, mostly churches, of exquisite baroque art, listed in the Unesco World Heritage Site.

In the oldest part of Modica, the houses are leaning against each other. This is because, often, they have been built using a part of the numerous caves, which are typical of this territory.
The signs of the medieval layout of the town can be found in the layout of the streets in the centre, full of steps and particular arches.

The churches, in the pure late baroque style, are impressive and feature magnificent facades. Not to be missed is a visit to the Church of San Giorgio with its monumental staircase of 250 steps; the Church of Carmine, with the adjacent convent; the Cathedral of San Giovanni and the mighty Church of San Pietro.

However, Modica is not only famous worldwide for its baroque art but also for the fine art of chocolate making.
Its production began thanks to the Spanish. They not only imported cocoa beans but also the way the Aztecs worked them. So today, we have chocolate with an unmistakable and pure taste.

The Castle of Donnafugata

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Less than 35 km from Modica is the Castle of Donnafugata. In the nineteenth century, the Castle became one of the most important centres of social life in the area.
The name Donnafugata derives from the Arabic "Ain-jafat" and means "Source of health". The legend says that a woman managed to escape from the castle where the wicked Count Berardo Cabrera held her prisoner.

The building, consisting of 122 rooms, extends for about 2500 m².

The Gothic style exteriors, battlements and galleries with pairs of columns full of capitals, intertwine with interiors of great beauty and refinement.

In the park of the Castle there is the splendid "Pirdituri", that is a stone labyrinth and the coffee house where the nobles kept their refreshments.

The castle was also the film set of Luchino Visconti's film The Leopard.

Ragusa: the "living room" of Sicilian Baroque

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Ragusa has two souls: Ragusa Superiore, the modern part of the city and Ragusa Ibla, the ancient part, built according to the original medieval layout.

Ragusa Ibla is a journey into the Sicilian Baroque with labyrinthine quarters, panoramic staircases, fountains, fragrant gardens and churches with carved stone facades. A special view of Ibla is from the churchyard of the Church of Santa Lucia: you will feel like you are in front of a postcard.

When you are in Ragusa a visit to the Ibleo Garden is a necessity. Strolls among avenues dotted with palm trees, benches and pots carved into the limestone. Finally, you reach elegant stone balconies that offer splendid views of the Irminio Valley and the Iblei Mountains.

How about St. George's Cathedral, a true gem of baroque architecture? The facade is marvellous, the dome is imposing, the Gothic-Catalan portal is beautiful.

The other famous church of the city is located in Ragusa Superiore and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The facade features numerous stone carvings and sculptures. It is subdivided by large columns and enriched by three majestic portals.

Ragusa charms you and invites you to discover her treasures. Discover them without hurry and relax while enjoying a delicious almond slush.

Marzamemi and the nature reserve of Vendicari

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Marzamemi is an ancient village that is entirely set by the sea. Located in the province of Syracuse, it was founded around the year 1000, when the Arabs built the Tonnara here.

The entire village is walkable, full of restaurants and bars, offering excellent seafood.

Leaving Marzamemi and travelling north along the coast, you arrive at the Vendicari nature reserve. The water that borders the reserve is crystal-clear. Moreover, its vegetation is home to hundreds of birds including flamingos and kingfishers.
Its most beautiful beach is Calamosche, ideal for snorkelling. In fact, squeezed between two rocky headlands, this sandy cove is protected from the currents. The almost imperceptible movement of the waves allows you to admire the seabed even close to the cliff. Here caves, cavities and ravines are home to a multiform marine fauna.

The locations of Commissioner Montalbano

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The Sicilian writer Andrea Camilleri, has chosen the territory of Ragusa to set the stories of his Commissioner Montalbano. So today, you can visit the film locations of the famous fictional television show that features him as the protagonist.

Vigata, Montelusa, Marinella do not exist in the real world, but only in Camilleri's novels.

Vigata, in fiction, is a collection of glimpses of different places that are located between the province of Ragusa and that of Agrigento.

The police station of Montalbano in Montelusa is a palace in Sicli, a beautiful late baroque town in the Val di Noto.

Marinella, where in the TV series the house of the commissioner is located, is located in Punta Secca, a small fishing village 20 km from Ragusa.