Ragusa Ibla and Modica

Ragusa Ibla and Modica are two Baroque hill towns of the Val di Noto in southeastern Sicily, about 105 km south of Catania, with Modica a further 15 km beyond Ragusa. The Interbus coach from Catania Airport to the Ragusa terminal takes about 1h 45min for roughly EUR 6 to 9 as reported by aggregators, while AST runs about four buses a day from the airport to Modica in about two hours for EUR 9 to 11. Timetables should be verified on interbus.it and aziendasicilianatrasporti.it. Driving takes about 1h 30min, with parking at Ibla's Giardino Ibleo. The train via Siracusa takes about four hours and is not suited to a day trip.

Ragusa Ibla is the old lower town, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake. Its centre is Piazza Duomo with the Duomo di San Giorgio, whose domed facade stands on a staircase, and nearby are the Giardino Ibleo gardens, the Circolo di Conversazione and a maze of lanes and steps. Modica spreads across a ravine and is known for the Duomo di San Giorgio, reached by a long flight of steps, and for Modican chocolate, made with a cold-worked grainy method of Aztec origin. Chocolate workshops such as those along Corso Umberto sell flavoured bars with cinnamon, chilli or orange peel, and the town also offers ricotta pastries and the savoury scacce.

Because of the distance, the day demands an early start. A realistic plan reaches Ragusa Ibla by mid-morning, walking Piazza Duomo, the gardens and the lanes, then lunch in Ibla, where pasta with pork ragu and local cheeses are typical. In the afternoon, a short transfer to Modica allows time for the cathedral staircase and chocolate tasting before the return coach, which must be checked in advance.

March to June and September to November are the most comfortable seasons, since the steep streets are tiring in summer heat. Comfortable shoes are essential, and a car greatly widens the options, including a swing through nearby Scicli.