Ragusa

Tours

Hop aboard our comfortable vehicles and set off to discover the three baroque gems of eastern Sicily. The tour begins in Syracuse, where you'll meet your driver and join the rest of the group for a full day exploring some of the most charming towns in the region. Your first stop is Ragusa Ibla, a true jewel nestled among the hills, where quiet alleys, grand churches, and scenic views tell stories of history and tradition. Next, you'll head to Modica, world-famous for its unique cold-processed chocolate made following an ancient Aztec recipe. Beyond its sweet delights, Modica is known for its stunning churches and noble palaces carved from golden stone. The final stop is Noto, the undisputed capital of Sicilian Baroque, where every façade, balcony, and staircase is a celebration of elegance and architectural harmony. The tour lasts approximately 8 hours, with 1 hour and 30 minutes of free time in each of the three towns. This is a transport-only service with driver, with no tour guide on board, ideal for travelers who prefer to explore independently while enjoying the convenience of organized transfers.

The Sicilian baroque is an icon in the area known as Val di Noto. After the devastating earthquake of 1693, these places were rebuilt with this style of decorations. Discover the rich of ghostly masks and elaborate stone carvings. First discover Noto, the capital of Sicilian baroque. Walk among the wonderful buildings of the Garden of Stone and admire the elegance and sinuosity of the architectural elements. The itinerary continues towards Modica, a city of ancient origins and with an excellent culinary tradition. Taste the different varieties of Modica chocolate, famous and known throughout the world. Ragusa Ibla completes the full immersion in the Baroque with its characteristic alleys, opulent buildings and Iblei gardens.

The first stop on this 8-hour tour is Noto, the Garden of Stone, noted for its Baroque heritage. After the massive 1693 earthquake, Noto was rebuilt on Meti Hill. The town’s origins date to the Early Bronze Age. Continue to Modica and visit the oldest chocolate factory in Sicily. The city also has a rich history and a wonderful architectural heritage. See the cathedrals of San Giorgio and San Pietro and the Palazzo Polara and Palazzo Napolino-Tommasi Rosso, among others. Ragusa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage in 2002 for its monuments of the late Baroque period. Visit examples of this style including its cathedrals and palaces.

Experience Southeast Italy through the perspective of the popular Italian television series Inspector Montalbano. This tour visits the places of Inspector Montalbano, the series main character, in Punta Secca, Ragusa, and Scicli. Meet your guide in Catania and head to the quaint villa of Punta Secca. Visit the inspector's seafront house, Marinella. Continue on to Ragusa to explore the many alleyways of its historic center. Take note as you walk through the backdrop of many scenes in the series. Afterward, go to the town of Scicli. As you wander through its historic center admire the many Baroque buildings and churches featured in the series, including the town hall, which served as the location of the Vigata police station.

we will leave from Syracuse (preferably in the morning) with the first stop in Noto, nestled among the rolling hills of Sicily, characterized by its sumptuous baroque palaces and imposing churches, living testimonies of the art and architecture of the period, we will then go to Modica, which with its intricate alleys and majestic churches, enchants visitors with the opulence and grace of the Baroque, expressed through ornate facades and refined decorative details (it will also be possible to visit the Modica Chocolate laboratory and there will also be a stop for free lunch), finally we will go to Ragusa Ibla to the Iblei gardens, overlooking a breathtaking panorama, capturing attention with its baroque buildings that climb along the slopes creating a suggestive mosaic of architectural elegance and history, the journey it will end in a place of your choice in Syracuse, the trip will end at a location of your choice in Syracuse where we will go to the splendid island of Ortigia where we will admire the Cathedral (temple of Athena), the Aretusa fountain, the Maniace castle and the temple of Apollo

An itinerary dedicated to Ragusa Ibla's main monuments, local traditions and Montalbano's places. A perfect guided tour to get to know Ragusa and its Baroque monuments. The guide will accompany you through the historic centre to discover magnificent architecture, curious local traditions and the places of Montalbano. A tour for those who want to get to know the spirit of the town and be guided by the tales of an expert and friendly guide. We will walk through the suggestive alleys of the centre, discovering the Giardino Ibleo, the ancient portal of San Giorgio, piazza Pola and the church of San Giuseppe, the Conversation Club, the square and the Cathedral of San Giorgio and others monuments.

Benefit from pick-up in Catania or Taormina, and then journey by air-conditioned vehicle on a locations tour of the TV series "Inspector Montalbano" in southeast Sicily. Discover the real locations of imaginary sites such as Mànnara, the town of Vigata where the TV drama was set and the small fishing village of Punta Secca where Montalbano lived in fictional Marinella. Get the chance to enjoy lunch at the Da Enzo a Mare restaurant, where many scenes from the series, adapted from the novels by Andrea Camilleri, were shot.

Enjoy typical homemade sicilian meal in the beautiful countryside, surrounded by olive trees and unspoiled nature! We’ll eat outdoor under a big olive tree, otherwise indoor in our stone house if weather won’t allow. You will discover the real taste of genuine food, because we don’t use industrial ingredients! We will begin our experience with a walk in the garden to collect the fresh ingredients that we will use in the kitchen: tomatoes, basil, onions, etc. In winter, weather permitting, we will instead go in search of wild vegetables. Back home we will cook our lunch together, inspired by the recipe books of Sicilian grandmothers: first courses with fresh pasta, second courses with meat such as rolls or meatballs, vegetarian dishes such as caponata or "i pipi ca muddica", but also "scacce", arancini, panelle , and then cannoli and cassatelle. At the end we will all have lunch together and have time to have pleasant conversations. In good weather we will have lunch on the terrace or in our garden, in winter in the kitchen in front of the wood stove. The whole experience will take place in a family and relaxed atmosphere, immersed in the greenery and silence of the Chiaramonte Gulfi countryside. During lunch you can taste "Nero d'Avola" red wine (or fresh "Insolia" white wine in summertime) from a prestigious local winery near home. A vegetarian and gluten free menu is available. Please let us know in advance about any dietary restrictions Other things to note If the weather will be too bad (sometime it happens also in Sicily!) probably we won’t be able to take a walk, but we’ll still have lunch with our products and we will spend more time in the kitchen.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of one of the secret gardens of the Mediterranean, a few steps from the Unesco monuments of the historic center of Ragusa Ibla and off the beaten track. During a peaceful 1 hour walk, passing through historic plots of land, among aromatic plants, flowers and trees typical of the area, we will live an authentic experience in an uncommon place. Pay close attention: it is not uncommon to encounter some "guests" around our garden, such as frogs, hedgehogs and birds. Finally we will end our walk by composing an aromatic plant together. Immergiti nell'affascinante mondo di uno dei giardini segreti del mediterraneo, a pochi passi dai monumenti Unesco del centro storico di Ragusa Ibla e fuori dai sentieri più battuti. Nel corso di una tranquilla passeggiata di 1 ora, passando per storici appezzamenti di terreni, tra piante aromatiche, fiori e alberi tipici del territorio, vivremo un'esperienza autentica in un luogo non comune. Prestate molta attenzione: non è raro incontrare qualche "ospite" in giro per il nostro giardino, come rane, ricci e uccellini. Infine termineremo la nostra passeggiata componendo insieme una piantina aromatica.

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home. You will enjoy an exclusive show cooking and tasting authentic recipes which have been treasured in family cookbooks passed down by authentic Italian "mammas". You can feel the warmth of Italian hospitality, as you connect with local people. A 4-course menu including a starter, pasta, a main course with a side dish, and dessert will be served, with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee).