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Visit Modica
The town of Modica is situated to the south-east of Sicily, a little to the south-east of Ragusa.
Modica is a typical Baroque town, in which almost nothing remains of the times before the earthquake of 1693 that devastated this region of Sicily - the main exceptions are the Gothic portal of the 'Chiesa del Carmine' and the church of Santa Maria del Gesù, dating from the fifteenth century. As with many sicilian towns it is the churches that are the most interesting examples of the architecture.
Churches of Modica
A visit to Modica can start from the Church of San Giorgio, which is a monumental example of the Sicilian Baroque style. Its origin, according to Placido Carrafa (17th century), dates back to early Medieval times, and it was then destroyed by the Arabs in 845. King Roger the "Norman" (1031-1101) ordered the reconstruction of it in the twelfth century.
Two subsequent reconstructions followed after the earthquakes that occurred in 1613 and 1693. The reconstruction of the Church was by Rosario Gagliardi (1698-1762). The church, preceded by a flamboyant staircase, has five naves and is rich in artistic ornaments, stuccoes and paintings, like those depicting the “Events of the Gospel and the life of St. George”, by Girolamo Aliprandi (16th century), and a painting of the XVII century by Filippo Paladini(1544-1614). Noteworthy are also the so-called "treasure" and the "Holy Ark", a work covered in silver, which contains the relics of the saint.
The Church of St. Peter's was built in the mid-fourteenth century, and later damaged by the earthquake of 1613 and finally destroyed by the earthquake of 1693. The façade of the rebuilt church is of the late Baroque style, and the staircase is marked by statues of the apostles, and enriched with other statues and a balcony that closes the first order. The interior has three naves. On an altar in the chapel on the right there is a statue of the “Madonna of Trapani”, a copy of the work by Francesco Laurana (1430-1502). In a niche of the right aisle, there is a wooden group of "Saint Peter and the paralytic," by Benedetto Civiletti (1845-1899).
The Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, built in the 17th century, has a convex façade, according to the Baroque style known as the “Jesuitical” style. The church has a single nave, and inside stands a marble statue of “Nostra Signora del Soccorso”, ascribed to Giorgio da Milano( 15th century).
The Church of St. Mary of Bethlehem was built in the fifteenth century. The interior has three naves, with a wooden coffered ceiling. Among the curios, we mention the crib ascribed to Benedetto Papale (1836-1913), author of the terracotta figurines, dressed in local costumes of the period. The right aisle is closed with a rare example of early construction which survived the earthquake of 1693, or the “Cappella del Sacramento”, dating from the 16th century, with a late-Gothic portal with Arab, Norman and Catalan elements. On the left side of the church, there is the so-called "Lunetta del Berlon," presumably of the sixteenth century, with a bas-relief of unknown local artists depicting the “Nativity.”
We conclude our visit to the religious buildings of Modica with the “Chiesa del Carmine”, built in Gothic-Sicilian style around the middle of the 13th century; it was partially destroyed by the earthquake of 1693. Of the original building the lower part of the façade remains, with the portal and the rose window, while the top is a Baroque reconstruction. In the interior, with a single nave, there is a marble “Annunciation”, attributed to Antonello Gagini (1478-1536). Next to the sacristy, a Gothic chapel still has traces of some frescoes.
Other highlights in Modica
Other highlights in Modica include the Convent of S. Mary of Jesus, which is one of the few surviving monuments of architecture of the late 15th century, in Sicilian style. It was built outside the town walls, and over the centuries it was also used as a prison.
Finally, we mention also the nearby rock church of “Santa Venera”, thought to date from the 14th century; inside, in the apse some frescoes remain. Another rock church in the modica region is located in the so-called 'Cava Ddieri'. The discovery of it was due to Paolo Orsi, during excavations in some settlements of the Bronze Age. The site of the church was excavated in a natural cave; before being transformed into a church - the cave was probably a late-Roman necropolis.
Among the civil buildings, we mention the "Grimaldi Palace," a Neo-Renaissance building that now contains the Municipal Art Gallery, which has works by a considerable number of contemporary painters. Also worthy of mention the “Manenti Palace” of the 18th century, “Tedeschi Palace”, and “Tommasi Rosso Palace”, in an intense Baroque style.
A classic example of military architecture can be seen in the ancient castle of the Counts of Modica, in which we can see the prisons and the watchtower.
We conclude our "tour" with a visit to the Modica Archaeological Museum, near the church of St. Peter. The “Museo Civico di Modica” is divided into several sections. The first section is devoted to fossil fishes. An interesting curio in the first showcase are some shark teeths, dating back to the Tertiary period and found in “Buxello”, a village near Modica. Another exhibits some stone statues, which represent female figures, highly stylized and schematic, dating from the Neolithic period. another interestig exhibit is various lithic objects, including a fragmentary flask and a glass, found in “Pirrone” and dating back to the Neolithic age, in the so-called "Diana Style".
Rest and relaxation
Modica, located between the sea and the countryside, also offers tourists an enjoyable landscape renowned regional food. A speciality of Modica is the chocolate, which was introduced by the Spaniards and that at Modica is produced in accordance with typically artisan techniques and according to ancient recipes. Another notable regional product to try is the flat breads, called “scacce”.
See also Modica history and etymology.
See the the Sicily travel guide for more places to visit in the same region as Modica.