Baroque tour: Modica & Ragusa Ibla

After your breakfast, we’ll start the scenic drive through the countryside of Ragusa with its characteristic low, dry-stone walls marking the boundaries of fertile fields.

Spend the morning in Modica stopping by the church of San Giorgio, which stands in all its splendor on top of a majestic 250-step staircase that boasts a view of the medieval alleys of the old town.

You will then be escorted to Modica Bassa to be shown the lively Corso Umberto I, with boutiques, cafès, pastry shops and different buildings with pre-earthquake structures. Along this street is a monumental flight of steps with excellent life-size Baroque statues of the Apostles that leads up to the post-1693 church dedicated to San Pietro.

After the gorgeous walk, it’s then time to have a taste of Modica’s traditional sweets, among which the very famous chocolate. Granulated sugar, bitter cocoa paste and cocoa butter, vanilla and cinnamon: the ingredients are still those of the Aztec tradition, exported in the Old Continent by the Spaniards counting more than 400 years. You will have a chance to dive into it when visiting a local chocolate factory for a tasting.

Lunch can be arranged at a local restaurant in the historical center where you can try different specialties: local cheeses, the “Scaccia Ragusana” and smashed dried fava bean soup.

In the afternoon, the visit will be concentrated on the nearby town of Ragusa. Take your time taking pictures of wonderful panoramas from the little terraces among the 300 steps connecting Ragusa superior to Ragusa Ibla. Walk through the Giardini Iblei, the pleasant public gardens laid out in the 19th century and then visit the iconic baroque St. George Dome located on a rise to emphasize its great height. Finally, stop at the main square to taste a gelato made from Sicilian wines.