Modica
Modica, in the province of Ragusa, is about 40km from Marzamemi. The city is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites thanks to its historic city centre which is rich with baroque architecture.
Like many of the historic city centres of the Val di Noto, Modica presents a particular urban configuration in which human needs and naturalistic aspects merge. Just think that many dwellings in the old part of the city are often extensions of ancient grottos.
The prevalent style of the monuments is commonly identified as late baroque or, better yet, Sicilian Baroque in South-Eastern Sicilian style, in other words that which followed the catastrophic earthquake in the Val di Noto in 1693.
The maximum expression of Modica’s Baroque style is the Duomo of Saint George which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The Duomo is located at the end of a scenic stairway of about 164 steps and is characterized by an imposing tower facade of about 62m. The church of 5 naves is equipped with a monumental organ with 4 keyboards, 80 registers and 3,000 perfectly functional tubes.