Location

The house is located in the historical centre of Modica, just behind the Teatro Garibaldi. Shops, restaurants and the main sites of Modica are all within easy reach.

The closest airport to Modica is Catania International Airport "Fontanarossa", which is about 1.30h from Modica.

Read below for information regarding Modica, the outskirts of the city, travel to Sicily and out of town bus connections.

Via Ritiro N.7, 97015 Modica(RG)

MODICA

The city is full of history. Its first name was Motyca and there is evidence that it was already inhabited during prehistoric times, then dominated by the Greeks, the Romans and Byzantium. It became an important agricultural and commercial centre during the Arab domination that lasted for two centuries (from 844-5 to 1091). During Norman rule it obtained the title of County of Modica and was then dominated by the French Anjous followed by the Aragon from Spain. At the end of the 13th century the Chiaramonte family begun to govern the county thus opening a century of economic prosperity and cultural revival. They were followed by the Cabrera and the Henriquez.

In 1693, the city was devastated by an earthquake which destroyed the eastern part of Sicily and then rebuilt in the same location. Baroque is the predominant style with the interesting church of St. Peter, the splendid church of St. George and the several Palazzi that can be found both in Modica Alta e Modica Bassa.

In Modica Alta, the splendid Cathedral of San Giorgio is one of the most important religious monuments of Sicily. The exterior of the church has an amazing flight of 250 steps which form the shape of a chalice and a beautiful façade which rises through three levels to a single bell-tower both can be enjoyed from the terrace, the windows or the balcony of the Via Ritiro n.7 house. The interior of the church, with its magnificent nave and double aisles, is enriched by stuccoes and gildings decorations, and paintings, such as the Events of the Gospel and of the life of Saint George (1513), by Girolamo Aliprandi, considered to be the "Raphael of Sicily".

In Modica Bassa, the Cathedral of San Pietro, was initially built in the 14th century and then rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake. The exterior has steps surmounted by big statues of the twelve apostles called by the local "I Santuna", the church is just 5 minutes walk from Via Ritiro n.7.

Important festivities are San Giorgio and San Pietro and the cheerful procession of Easter Sunday known as "A Maronna Vasa Vasa", when a special statue of the Lady moves its arms (aided by a puppet master hidden in the carriage carrying the statue) to bless Christ resurrected and the many Modicani crowding the streets of the city for the occasion. Visiting Modica for one of these occasions will add a special touch to your memorable holiday in Sicily.

The city is renowned for its rich culinary tradition offering an amazing variety of seasonal dishes that follow different traditions and are the amazing result of the local re-interpretation of the legacy of the various dominations, especially the Arab and Spanish ones. Sweet and savory dishes, summer and winter food are on offer for a real taste of the county. Among the most famous products and dishes: the Cioccolato Modicano, i Mpanatigghi, i scacci, u pani i casa, u maccu etc etc

OUTSKIRTS

The outskirts of Modica offer many opportunities to visit seaside locations along the coast or nearby towns and cities full of history.

Marina di Modica is just 20km away, a location where many Modicani have their second house to spend their summer near the beach, nearby are also Santa Maria del Focallo, Donnalucata, Sampieri e Marina di Ragusa with their sandy beaches, just a bit further afield is Vendicari Nature Reserve, with wonderful beaches and marshes.

Other locations to visit are Ragusa, Scicli, Pozzallo, Ispica, Noto, Siracusa and Caltagirone. A slightly longer journey can take you to places such as Catania, Mount Etna, Taormina and Agrigento, all requiring a full day visit.

TRAVEL TO SICILY

Getting to Sicily is quite easy as the island has two major airports, Palermo and Catania, connected to some European cities with direct flights and to several cities in the rest of Italy. However, remember that Catania airport is the closest option to come to Modica. You can also get there by train or by ship from the mainland.

By Air

Palermo Airport is connected to many other Italian cities (Rome, Milan, Bergamo, Turin, Venice, Verona, Genoa, Bologna, Pisa, Forlì, Cagliari, Florence, Naples and the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa) and destinations abroad (London Stansted, Paris, Madrid, Berlin-Tegel, Barcellona, Cologne-Bonn, Munich, Tunis, Valletta, Vienna).

For information on getting from the airport to Palermo or other cities click here.

Catania Airport is one of the busiest in Italy, third in line with Venice, Turin and Naples. There are connections to many cities on the mainland (Rome, Milan, Bergamo, Turin, Venice, Verona, Genoa, Bologna, Pisa, Forlì, Olbia, Florence, Naples) and direct flights to many European and North African destinations (London Gatwick, Paris, Barcellona, Bruxelles, Munich, Zurig, Casablanca, Valletta).

For information on getting from the airport to Catania or other cities click here.

Trapani Airport is connected to Bari, Pisa and Rome on the mainland and to the following international destinations: Barcelona, Birmingham, Bremen, Dublin, DÃ¼sseldorf, Frankfurt, Stockholm .

Flying from:

Other cities in the Mainland

By Train

Sicily is, as you well know, an island. So many think that they have to get off the train to cross the channel and donâ€™t even ask for a ticket all the way to Sicily but on to the tip of Italy â€“ Reggio Calabria. However, you can get to Sicily by train without getting off to cross the channel as the train actually gets on the ferry and takes you straight to your destination. Keep in mind that, depending on your departure city, this can be a very long and tiring journey, there are overnight sleeper services from Milan and Venice to Palermo or Catania with stops in Bologna and Rome, in this case it is worth investing in Wagon Lits or couchettes service.

For information check the Trenitalia website.

By Sea

There are three ways to get to Sicily by sea.

There are boats going to Palermo from Cagliari, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Naples, Salerno, Tunis.
There are also connections from Naples and Malta to Catania.

Alternatively, you could catch the ferry from Malta to Pozzallo. It takes about 15min. by taxi to get to the port from the airport and the ferry usually takes an hour and twenty minutes to cross to Pozzallo. We have done this route several times and it is both very enjoyable and very comfortable, and it also gives you a good excuse to spend a day in Malta!

Information regarding ferries to Sicily.

OUT OF TOWN BUS CONNECTIONS

A.S.T. | Ph. +39 095 7461096
Via Luigi Sturzo, 220 - 95100 Catania -
www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it.
Provides bus services from the airport to the towns of: Avola, Caltagirone, Carlentini, Grammichele, Ispica, Lentini, Mazzarrone, Mirabella Imbaccari, Modica, Noto, Palagonia, Piazza Armerina, Pozzallo, Rosolini, S. Michele di Ganzaria, Scicli, Sigonella.