MUST SEE /
The surroundings
The surroundings
Explore the beautiful nature of the countryside of Modica, landscape typical of the Mediterranean. Visit Cava d'Ispica and cities such as Scicli and Ragusa.
Moving just a little further away from the city centre you will find yourself amongst the beautiful nature of the Modican countryside, an almost flat plateau which slopes towards the coast. It is surrounded by carob trees, olive trees and the typical Mediterranean scenery. The characteristic stone walls which distinguish the country-side also define the plots of land; they date- back to the first half of the sixteenth century, when the immense land of the County was divided amongst the smallholders.
The peculiarity of the surroundings of Modica is the presence of fissures, deep gorges carved by water streams in the limestone, which are called quarries locally.
In the quarries water streams flow underground and only resurface in some places. The water valleys and limestone, which affect the plateau in some places are wonderful. They create environments that are naturally protected, and rich in plant and animal species: a real natural heritage. In the countryside there are scattered farms and cottages - examples of rural architecture handed down through the centuries - which are now used mostly as traditional farm restaurants, where you can discover the traditions and flavours of the past.
You can visit other beautiful jewels of the Baroque, located just a few miles from Modica. One of these is definitely Scicli, with its beautiful palaces: Palazzo Spadaro, particularly inside, Palazzo Fava, with winged griffins who look to the church of San Bartolomeo and its backdrop of rocky ridges, and Palazzo Benevento where two flashy meringue kisses stand out, a St. Joseph and several human caricatures.
No less fascinating is the town of Ragusa Ibla, characterized by narrow and steep stairways, and rows of houses with sloping rooves and coloured tiles. The Dome of St. George is a masterpiece of elegance and majesty, while the Baroque palaces are characterized by horrible faces of stone monsters that guard the buildings and doorways.
Between Modica and Ispica you can visit a large archaeological site of considerable importance, Cava d'Ispica, a valley that stretches 13 km in length. Many testimonials from different eras can be found such as oven-shaped Sicilian caves which date back to the Bronze Age, the Christian catacombs from the Early Empire (IV-V century AD), the cave paintings of the Cave of the Saints, and the ruins of the Byzantine church of San Pancrati.
You can visit other beautiful jewels of the Baroque, located just a few miles from Modica. One of these is definitely Scicli, with its beautiful palaces: Palazzo Spadaro, particularly inside, Palazzo Fava, with winged griffins who look to the church of San Bartolomeo and its backdrop of rocky ridges, and Palazzo Benevento where two flashy meringue kisses stand out, a St. Joseph and several human caricatures.
No less fascinating is the town of Ragusa Ibla, characterized by narrow and steep stairways, and rows of houses with sloping rooves and coloured tiles. The Dome of St. George is a masterpiece of elegance and majesty, while the Baroque palaces are characterized by horrible faces of stone monsters that guard the buildings and doorways.
Between Modica and Ispica you can visit a large archaeological site of considerable importance, Cava d'Ispica, a valley that stretches 13 km in length. Many testimonials from different eras can be found such as oven-shaped Sicilian caves which date back to the Bronze Age, the Christian catacombs from the Early Empire (IV-V century AD), the cave paintings of the Cave of the Saints, and the ruins of the Byzantine church of San Pancrati.
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