Discover Sicily’s baroque towns and natural beauty on a day trip from Malta. Explore Ragusa Ibla, Modica, and Scicli’s rich history and stunning landscapes.
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Modica - Modica
Modica Bassa is the historic city center, featuring the main street Corso Umberto I, which is lined with baroque churches and monasteries. It’s no surprise the city is called La Citta’ delle Cento Chiese. High-end brand shops and elegant cafes mix with the churches, giving the city center a wealthy atmosphere. Modica is now famous for its Cioccolato di Modica or Cioccolata Modicana. The Spanish brought the recipe from the ancient Aztecs of Mexico. Chocolate shops welcome visitors, with the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto being a well-known chocolate factory shop. - Ragusa Ibla - Ibla is a charming, leisurely place. Enjoy a coffee or a Campari at the cafe at the foot of the Duomo, one of the finest buildings in Sicily, designed by Rosario Gagliardi. A walk down the slightly sloping Piazza and onto the main winding street leads you to the Giardino Ibleo. Along the way, take a moment to admire another of Gagliardi’s works, the small but elegant church of San Giuseppe. The Giardino Ibleo is a peaceful haven with a stunning view of the valley below and beyond. Just outside the garden entrance is the gothic Portale San Giorgio, the only remaining part of the original church of San Giorgio from the early 13th century, which was demolished in the 1693 earthquake.
- Scicli - It’s well worth exploring this quiet little town, overlooked by a massive rock on which sits the unfinished church of San Matteo. Among the many palaces built by aristocratic families, the standout is Palazzo Benventano, just off the main Piazza, with its façade decorated with Saracen gargoyles. The church of Santa Maria la Nova, one of the many baroque churches in the town center, houses Scicli’s best-known icon, the Byzantine wooden statue of the Virgin Mary wielding a sword and riding a white stallion. The Chiarafura Cave Dwellings, carved into the cliff in prehistoric times, saw their last residents leave as late as 1958.
- Local guide
- Catamaran to Sicily including return and charges
- Coach transfers in Sicily
- Meals are not included
- Local transfers to/from hotel to port and vice versa
Sicily is a country of diversity, you cannot do it justice in a short spell of time. It is easy to forget that the Island, with a population of 5 million, only became part of the Italian state in 1860. We suggest you look out for the ever-changing landscape, a feature even on a short trip. The Iblei Mountain Range is arguably one of the most picturesque areas of Sicily, with a variety of rivers, valleys, canyons, and lakes that bring with them a vast flora and fauna, making the countryside around the baroque towns of the Provincia di Ragusa a paradise for lovers of nature. The cities and towns of the region, many of them UNESCO Heritage Sites, are themselves a treasure trove not only of Sicilian Baroque but also of world-renowned Greek and Roman monuments.
There is only one thing that we are certain of, You will enjoy Sicily.
- Tour Duration includes the travel time from pick up point to the attraction
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
