“”A theater was the village, a stage of pink stones, a feast of marvels. And how it smelled of jasmine at the approach of evening.”
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We have seen cities described in many ways but never how the poet Gesualdo Bufalino described Modica: “A pomegranate split in two halves”. As strange of a description it may sound, it perfectly embodies this city’s layout: 2 halves crowded with tiny, humble picturesque houses on top of each other, like seeds in a pomegranate
Is Modica Worth It?
If you’re asking yourself whether it’s worth visiting Modica, then I’ll stop you right there with a resounding YES! Modica has everything you’d need for a perfect getaway, a romantic city center with beautiful baroque architecture, stunning cathedrals and is close to some of the most beautiful beaches in the area! So not only Modica is totally worth visit, but you’ll make the best of your visit by reading on and finding out what are the best things to do in Modica.
Start with Breakfast!
You’re most likely going to visit this beautiful corner of the world in spring or summer and if that’s the case you’re in luck my friend. In Modica you can enjoy some of the best granita in the whole of Sicily. What’s granita, you ask? It’s a delicious semi-frozen dessert, similar to a sorbet but with a way more intense fruity taste. The classic tastes are coffee, almond, chocolate, lemon and strawberry. The best part? It comes with a delicious fluffy brioche bun for you to dip and enjoy! Since it’s a semi-frozen dessert, you’ll love it and find it extremely refreshing in the hot Sicilian summer.
Our favourite places to enjoy granita are
- Bar Adamo
- Caffé dell’Arte
- Pasticceria di Lorenzo
Adamo and Di Lorenzo are right in the city center perfectly positioned for you to start your day before strolling through the gorgeous baroque streets!
And if you are visiting off season during autumn or winter, worry not because these same establishments will happily serve you a hot Modica chocolate or a energizing cappuccino, together with a scrumptious croissant (go ahead and have one stuffed with pistachio cream, if you feel adventurous.
Explore the Old Baroque Town
Modica’s city center is the perfect place to have a stroll and taking in the beauty of its architecture. It’s relatively small, it’s an easy stroll but you’ll find yourself stopping several times to admire the beautiful architecture of Modica’s churches and baroque palaces.
The ideal way to visit the city center is starting in Corso Umberto I the main artery of the city, where locals love to stroll on weekends and enjoy some shopping or sipping their espressos in the terraces of the many cafes.
And when talking about the best things to do in Modica, a town that was literally nicknamed “City of 100 churches” including some in our guide is mandatory!
The main landmarks in the area are the Chiesa del Carmine a beautiful church with a stunning late gothic rose window and Chiesa di San Pietro one of Modica’s main churches, you’ll find more in depth info on our Guide to Modica Cathedrals. For a different kind of church visit San Nicolò Inferiore, unlike the imposing baroque cathedrals you’ll find yourself visiting a cave with a history dating back over 1000 years!
Strolling around the Corso remember to venture into the small alleyways with old tiny houses and to pay attention to the decorations under the baroque palaces, notable mention the beautiful Portale de Leva particularly below the balconies you’ll find scary faces or angel faces, believed to keep evil spirits at bay.
Indulge in the Healthiest Chocolate you’ll Find!
One of the best things to do in Modica is surely trying this town’s most famous product. Modica’s chocolate. This chocolate is like no other in the world and you indulge in it without worries because it’s as healthy as chocolate can get! Yes, HEALTHY CHOCOLATE! Sign me up!
The Modica chocolate is produced using techniques that are centuries old. This is the only place where chocolate bars are made mixing cocoa and sugar at low temperatures. Unlike with industrial production processes, this technique preserves the healthy flavonoids and antioxidants of the cocoa bean that are usually lost in normal preparations due to the high temperatures.
In Pasticceria di Lorenzo, you’ll find plenty of chocolate bars of all tastes and flavors. But the most popular place to go chocolate Shopping is Dolceria Bonajuto. The Bonajuto family established this shop several generations ago and have pioneered the art of making chocolate in Modica, they also offer very informative chocolate tours and experiences where you’ll get to learn a lot about Modica chocolate’s history and also get a lot of free treats!
Pro Tip: Go up the stairs of Bonajuto’s shop and you’ll find yourself on a unique viewpoint where you an admire both cathedrals at the same time!
Enjoy the local cuisine
Here’s the thing about “Italian Food” there’s no such thing! Every region in Italy has its own cuisine and culinary traditions and within each region, from town to town, you’ll find local specialties that you won’t find anywhere else. That’s the case for Modica too!
The best way to experience the local cuisine is to visit an agriturismo: these places are farms in the countryside, that cook the traditional food using their own produce they make everything from scratch, using the vegetables from their gardens and dairy and meat from their livestock. One of our favourite Agriturismo in Modica is Il Monte they offer set menus with plenty of different courses and trust us, you’ll be shocked by the price., it’s just incredible value! Not many guides mention this but visiting an agriturismo is certainly one of the best things to do in Modica, even if to do so you have to drive a bit out of town and explore the country side
If you prefer something in town, there are plenty of options from a casual pizza, to street food to traditional meals. To savor the local cuisine the best spot are:
- Trattoria Ricotta & Co
- Osteria dei Sapori Perduti
- A Putia ro Vinu
If you’d like something a bit more sophisticated, Accursio Radici is a fantastic bistro, where you can enjoy the exquisite cuisine of Michelin starred chef Accursio Craparo, although this particular restaurant does not have a michelin star, needless to say you’ll be blown away by the incredible cuisine of chef Accursio.
Feeling more like pizza? Well in Modica town center you have some great choices, our favourite pizza places in town are Niria Fritt Food and Daniele Baglieri. Both pizzerias make traditional Neapolitan pizza to die for.
Don’t forget the street food! One of the best things to do in Modica is indulging in a something you won’t find in many other parts of Sicily. Walk into any bakery or small take away joint for a chance to try Modica’s scacce. What is a scaccia?
Well imagine if lasagna and pizza had a baby, that’s what you’d get! Layers of delicious dough folded one on top of the other and baked. Traditional combos are Tomato onion, tomato and eggplant, Ricotta cheese and sausage. One of these bad boys will set you back less than 2€ and leave you full and satisfied for a good while!
Fun Fact: Modica’s scacce are SO GOOD they are rumoured to have kicked McDonald’s out of town. Check out our video below to learn more about this incredible story:
Feel like Royalty at Modica’s Castle
Il Castello dei Conti di Modica used to be the main residence of the Counts of Modica, this fortified giant stands tall above the town center and in order to reach it you’ll have to climb up to Modica Alta, another great Neighbourhood to visit in Modica (more on that later!)
The castle used to be the residence of Modica’s rulers, was also used as a prison and due to its prominent position on top of a cliff overlooking the valley, offers one of the best views of all of Modica. The castle predates the Earthquake of 1693, the clock tower though was destroyed and rebuilt following the event.
There are guided tours available as well as audio guides and leaflets, it’s very interesting to visit the prisons and depending on opening times and occasions sometimes even the torture chambers!
The Town’s Main Jewel, San Giorgio
Modica’s main cathedral, is a stunning piece of baroque architecture, it’s a good hike up to get there but once you do, you’re rewarded with a view worthy of a postcard. From the bottom of the stairs you’ll be in awe admiring the church’s beautiful baroque facade, framed by blooming flowers (best time to visit is late spring!) Make sure you have a look inside the Cathedral and climb up to enjoy the view from the bell tower. We’ve written a more extensive guide to both Cathedrals here.
Head to the Beach!
Just 20 minutes drive from Modica you’ll find the beaches of Marina di Modica and Sampieri, and if you are up for venturing further, you’re in for a few treats! The coast in this part of Sicily is home to some gorgeous beaches and coastal jewels like the Vendicari and Irminio nature reseves. We have written a separate guides on The 5 Best Beaches near Modica. Going for a beach day is one of the best things to do in Modica, especially if you need to relax after all the stairs and sightseeing in the city center!
