Discover Modica and Ragusa – What to See and Do! August 12, 2024 – Posted in: Italy, Travel – Tags: Attractions, Food, Holiday, Italy, Modica, Ragusa, Restaurants, Sicily, Travel, Vacation

Visit Modica and Ragusa

In the southeastern corner of Sicily, you’ll find the two small mountain towns, Modica and Ragusa. Modica is famous for its chocolate, while Ragusa is known for its cheese production. Both UNESCO towns offer breathtaking views from their mountain tops. The many baroque buildings, combined with the beautiful nature, make these towns a must-visit if you’re in the area.

The train runs from Siracusa to the two mountain towns several times a day. You can easily take a day trip, where you eat chocolate in Modica and then hop on the train to Ragusa for some cheese tasting. However, you can also fully immerse yourself in these UNESCO towns with leisurely walks up the mountainside through the winding streets, traditional and hearty mountain cuisine, and awe-inspiring beauty that will leave you speechless.

We stayed two nights in Modica and visited Ragusa, and next time we’ll do it the other way around – because we’re definitely coming back! It’s not because of a wild nightlife or an abundance of fine dining restaurants, but there’s plenty of opportunity for hiking, both up the steep streets in both towns and, in the case of Ragusa, also in the large gorge. See hotels in Modica and Ragusa by clicking on the city names.

How to Get to Modica and Ragusa

As mentioned, you can travel from Siracusa to both Modica and Ragusa. The small, bumpy train has many daily departures and stops in both towns. Find your departure here on Trenitalia.

From Modica, you can continue by bus to Catania. The route is operated by AST, and the bus departs from the other end of town near the tourist information center.

Attractions in Modica

Chocolate Museum

Modica is famous for its unique cold-pressed chocolate. The technique involves not heating any ingredients above 45 degrees Celsius. Since no fat is added to the chocolate, the final product is a bit dry and gritty but incredibly healthy.

In Modica, you can visit the chocolate museum, Museo del Cioccolato di Modica. Besides exhibits that tell the history of chocolate and its production, the museum also contains several chocolate sculptures, including a map of Italy that fills an entire room. It’s… mostly fun and quite kitschy. You can also buy chocolate at the museum, but wait until you reach the nearest supermarket, where you won’t have to pay an inflated price.

On the street where the chocolate museum is located, you can also visit some of the traditional chocolate makers in the town, including Antica Dolceria Rizza.

Duomo di San Giorgio

Further along the main road, you can start your ascent up the Scalinata di San Giorgio, the stairs that lead to the Duomo di San Giorgio. This beautiful baroque church was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1693. The church is stunning with all its baroque flourishes, but be sure to turn around here to take in the incredible view.

Belvedere

Continue up all the stairs and further up the mountain to the Belvedere viewpoint at Via Pizzo. Don’t forget to bring a cold soda with you, because now it’s time to sit on the well-placed benches and simply take in the town’s beauty. We won’t spoil the surprise, but it’s absolutely worth the steep walk.

Great Restaurants in Modica

Throughout the day, the many tourists flock to the restaurants, which are especially designed to accommodate large groups. Fortunately, this doesn’t compromise the quality. At Osteria dei Sapori Perduti, you can taste all the specialties of the local mountain cuisine. Be sure to also visit the restroom, if only for the wall of old photos of the town in the small hallway.

In the afternoon, it’s a must to enjoy a pastry at Pasticceria Fede, the elegant old patisserie. Don’t hesitate to ask for one of the local Modica pastries. The Mpanatigghi is a small, crescent-shaped cake filled with chocolate, nuts – and meat.

When night falls, the large buses leave town, taking the many tourists with them. What’s left is a quiet mountain town, perhaps without many restaurants or much nightlife, but cozy and relaxing. On our first evening, we had savory crepes at Creperia Panineria del Corso. From the outside, it looks like a small crepe stand offering cheap street food, but it tasted heavenly. Try the horse meat crepe if you’re feeling adventurous.

The next evening, we visited the wine bar Vitae right next door, where we enjoyed a Tagliere Salumi e Formaggi. The platter included ham, mortadella, and Ragusa cheeses. We ended the night with a cocktail, mingling with the locals who hang out in the small bars and cafés along the side street Via Clemente Grimaldi.

Sights in Ragusa

During our stay in Modica, we also made time for a trip to the neighboring town of Ragusa. With just 2,000 inhabitants, Ragusa feels more like a picturesque attraction than a bustling town. Still, it’s worth a visit, if only to stroll through the beautiful, winding streets.

Ragusa is divided into the modern part of the city and Ragusa Ibla. To reach the latter, follow the dark red signs that point towards the mountain top. The route involves climbing stairs and navigating smooth cobblestones, with the walk from the train station to the park at the end spanning about three kilometers. It’s a scenic journey, but if the incline is too challenging, there’s also a small train that runs along the route.

Be sure to cross the beautiful old bridge, Ponte Vecchio. If you plan to hike in the valley afterward, grab a snack from the bakery Panificio Giummarra. In Ragusa Ibla, you can admire the impressive church, enjoy cheese at one of the many cafés on the square, or walk to the end of the route and rest in the lovely park.

On our way back to the train, we discovered a new route, south of Ragusa Ibla. It quickly became clear that the stairs were part of a larger hiking trail system, the San Bartolomeo route. If you locate the old water mill on the map, the trail system is just above it. On this Facebook page, which also describes the urban garden project, you can get a sense of how amazing it is. The trail runs along the mountain, and there’s an opportunity to hike down into the lush, shaded valley. Unfortunately, we didn’t have more time that day, but we’ll update this article once we return to explore the gorge.

 

Find a Great Hotel in Modica

Since we knew we’d be heading to Ragusa next, we chose the hotel closest to the small train station in Modica. However, Modica isn’t very large, so everything is close by. One great thing about the FerroHotel is that the short walk from the station to the hotel is completely flat. You won’t need to worry about dragging your suitcase up any hills.

FerroHotel has 4 stars, and we had a great stay! The room was bright and very clean, and the bathroom was probably the best we encountered on the entire trip. From our room, we had a beautiful view over the valley and the large bridge. Each day, we enjoyed a fairly large breakfast buffet with good coffee.

The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the train station and a 10-minute walk from the town center. If you’re continuing your journey by bus to Catania, it’s about a 20-minute walk to the bus station. If you’re arriving by car, the hotel has a large parking area.

Read more about the hotel here: FerroHotel

See all the other lovely hotels in Modica by clicking here or conduct your own search for wonderful hotels in Sicily:

Booking.com