Modica

Modica is a town in the province of Ragusa in Sicily, with a population of about 55,000.

Understand
Modica is one of the eight "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto" UNESCO world heritage sites. It's in two parts: Modica Alta, higher and older, is perched on top of the southern Ibeli hill. Modica Bassa is built lower down the slopes and in the valley below. Like the other nearby towns, Modica was smashed in the earthquake of 1693, and rebuilt in baroque style. The broad main avenue of the lower town used to be the river, but after a disastrous flood in 1902 it was diverted, and the graceful boulevard was developed.

By plane
The closest airport is Comiso. It's 18 km north of Ragusa, with no public transport link. There are daily flights to Milan, and others to Rome FCO, London Stansted, Dublin, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt.

Catania Fontanarossa is further but has a bus service from Modica, and a greater range of domestic and European flights.

Palermo has a similar range of flights to Catania.

By train
Modica is on a branch line, plied by a lumbering single-coach railcar. Six trains a day M-Sa go north to Gela (80 min to 2 hrs, stops include Ragusa and Donnafugata) and south to Syracuse (90 min, stops include Scicli, Pozzallo, Ispica and Noto). From Gela there are connections to Palermo, and from Syracuse to Catania and Messina. No trains on Sunday.



By car

 * From Catania, take SS114 and turn for Lentini SS194. From there follow sign to Ragusa on the SS514.
 * From Siracusa, take the motorway A18 and then the SS115.
 * From Agrigento/Gela, follow the SS.115

See
A walk down from Modica Alta to Modica Bassa gives great views of the lower town. Either take the steps, or the zigzagging road.

Modica Alta




Buy
Modica is known for its artisanal chocolate production. Along Corso Umberto I and elsewhere, there are many shops selling this prized products, and offering samples of the many flavors it which it is produced.

Go next

 * Nearby Ragusa and Syracuse are both must-see destinations.