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Ragusa UNESCO sites

Our most recommended Ragusa UNESCO sites

Noto, Modica and Ragusa: The Baroque Tour from Catania

1. Noto, Modica and Ragusa: The Baroque Tour from Catania

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.

Ragusa & Modica from Syracuse (lunch included)

2. Ragusa & Modica from Syracuse (lunch included)

If you want to discover the Baroque beauty secrets, this is the tour for you! An incredible full-day dedicated to the exploration of two fascinating UNESCO heritage sites: Ragusa Ibla and Modica. Departure from Syracuse in direction of Ragusa Ibla. Our Team will offer you time at disposal to keep the feeling with this section of the town, giving you direction to explore independently the old part of the city and an undisputed reality of Baroque art. Here you can admire numerous eighteenth-century churches and buildings and the Gardens. Soon after, you will discover another jewel of the Sicilian Baroque: Modica. Lunch is included in a typical trattoria to enjoy the food specialties of this side of Sicily, where a strong Spanish influence is still alive. Obviously, you will have the opportunity to taste the local chocolate made following the tradition that origined from the Aztec of Central America brought in Sicily from the Spanish in the 17^ century At the end of the tour, return to Syracuse.

Ragusa Ibla: Walking Tour with Local Guide

3. Ragusa Ibla: Walking Tour with Local Guide

The guided tour of Ragusa in the historic center of Ibla following the style of the late Baroque with religious buildings and characteristic palaces that have made this place a real jewel. Let's start from the Portal of San Giorgio, the only architectural element that survived the earthquake that destroyed the entire town and also the ancient Cathedral of San Giorgio which was later rebuilt in another part of Ibla and which we will visit later. The beautiful portal, symbol of Ragusa, is made with light pink stones in the Gothic-Catalan style and in its central part the fight between St. George and the dragon is depicted. A few steps away we find the entrance to the Ibleo Garden, the oldest garden in Ragusa, built in the nineteenth century and overlooking the Irminio Valley and the Iblei Mountains, where you are welcomed at the main entrance by an avenue of 50 palm trees and an elegant balcony that borders the garden. Inside this oasis of peace and relaxation in the shade of ancient trees and exotic plants there are some fountains including one with the shape of Sicily, the monument to the fallen of the Great War and some churches. We will visit the Church of San Giacomo which stands on an ancient temple whose interior will amaze you with its wooden ceiling, Corinthian columns, statues and precious paintings. The tour continues walking through the historic center where we will visit elegant palaces from the outside with balconies supported by typical Baroque-style masks, Sicilian ceramics shops, artisan shops where the famous Sicilian carts are still made up to the famous Conversation Circle, called also Caffè dei Cavalieri, an elegant neoclassical building wanted in the nineteenth century by the nobles of Ragusa as an exclusive meeting point. From the outside you can see precious frescoes and chandeliers on the ceiling and mirrors that bring us back to a nineteenth-century atmosphere. On the main street leading to the Cathedral we also find the beautiful Church of S. Giuseppe with a facade similar to the cathedral, in Baroque style and with a beautiful floor of colored majolica inside. The guided tour ends with the symbolic monument of Ragusa, the Cathedral of San Giorgio, preceded by an imposing staircase. Visiting the church inside, we can admire the beautiful paintings of the eighteenth-century Sicilian masters, the large pipe organ and the statue of St. George on horseback with his reliquary.

From Syracuse: Ragusa Ibla, Noto and Modica Private Day Trip

4. From Syracuse: Ragusa Ibla, Noto and Modica Private Day Trip

Journey through the Sicilian baroque on a private day tour from Syracuse. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ragusa Ibla, Modica, and Noto on walking tours. See the Duomo of San Giorgio, the Church of San Giorgio, the Church of San Pietro, and more. After pickup in Syracuse, make your first stop in the old Baroque city of Ragusa Ibla. Admire numerous 18th-century churches and buildings on which important sculptors and architects worked. Hear about the famous "Baroque of the Noto Valley." Next, discover another jewel of the Sicilian Baroque: Modica. Stroll through the town and admire its churches, noble palace facades, fountains, the Pizzo viewpoint, San Giorgio Church, San Pietro Church, and the ruins of the castle. From there, continue toward the capital of Baroque: Noto. Walk around the city and marvel at its historic palaces, churches, terraces, and stairways, all built with a local stone with a golden color. Visit the Porta Reale — the real city gate — and the Cathedral of San Nicolò. See the most important building in the town, the Palazzo Ducezio, before continuing on a few steps to the Via Nicolaci, famous throughout the world for its infiorata (flower carpets).

From Catania: Inspector Montalbano Day Tour with Audio Guide

5. From Catania: Inspector Montalbano Day Tour with Audio Guide

Explore south-eastern Sicily on this full-day tour from Catania. Discover the sights of the tv show Inspector Montalbano, from the splendor of ancient Ragusa Ibla to the beautiful baroque towns of Scicli and Modica with the help of an audio guide. Begin your tour from the heart of Catania, the Duomo Square. Listen to your audio guide as you travel to your first stop: Punta Secca, a seaside hamlet in Santa Croce Camerina. Explore "a sicca," as the locals call it. Marvel at its stunning cliffs and catch a glimpse of its iconic lighthouse. Continue to Scicli, a beautiful baroque town in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Val di Noto, nestled in a cozy valley. Wander through the narrow streets, spotting churches and palaces featured in the tv show. Stop to marvel at Sant'Ignazio and Palazzo Favo. Return to the van, and drive to the ancient historical city of Ragusa Ibla. Discover Ragusa's 9 Baroque churches, including the stunning Cathedral of San Giorgio. Learn about this town's extraordinary history from your audio guide as you explore. Finish your tour with a stop in the baroque town of Modica. Catch a glimpse of the massive Castello dei Conti, and taste the famous Modica Chocolate, created from an ancient Aztec recipe.

Sicily: 7-Day Sicilian Culture and Art Tour

6. Sicily: 7-Day Sicilian Culture and Art Tour

Day 1 After getting picked up at Catania Airport, enjoy a welcome aperitif in the company of your local guide in Catania. Afterward, enjoy a walking tour of the city during which you will see iconic landmarks such as the Duomo Square, The cathedral fi Saint Agatha, Roman Amphitheatre, and Bellini Park. Day 2 Start your day with a light trek on Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna. After your trek, re-energize with a traditional Italian lunch at a family-run restaurant. You will also be able to sample some local wines from the Etna region. After lunch, enjoy some free time to explore the town of Taormina at your own pace before heading up to Castelmola, where you can sample the region's famous almond wine served with delicious biscuits. Finish the day by watching the breathtaking sunset in the village of Savoca, one of Italy's prettiest villages and the setting for the Godfather movie. Day 3 Today, enjoy a guided tour of the city of Syracuse, including a visit to the island of Ortigia. Here, admire landmarks such as the Cathedral of Saint Lucy, Caravaggio, Archimedes Square, and the Fountain of Aretusa. Afterward, move onto Neapolis Archaeological Park where you can admire the Latomie del Paradiso, Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, and  The Ear of Dionysius. Stop for lunch in the town of Noto, a baroque-style town with elegant churches and sprawling palaces. In the afternoon, enjoy a chocolate-making masterclass in the oldest chocolate factory in Sicily before heading to the picture-perfect town of Ragusa Ibla, where you will spend the night. Day 4 Start your day at the Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, where one of the largest and richest collections of Roman mosaics in the world awaits you. Afterward, head to the Valley of Temples, where you will discover one of the greatest examples of Greater Greece's art and architecture. Enjoy some free time to explore this sprawling temple complex, with 7 ancient Greek temples. Day 5 In the morning, head to the coastal town of Marsala to sample the town's namesake wine. Learn how to differentiate this unique fortified wine by its amber color and unique scent. In the afternoon, head to the Trapani Salt Museum. Here, learn more about salt production methods in the area and admire a unique landscape dotted with over 100 mills, some of which are still in function. Finish the day with a stroll around the medieval town of Erice, a historic and charming town located in the Sicilian hills. Day 6 Today, you will be visiting the towns of Palermo and Monreale, both of which are famous for their Byzantine-style mosaics. In Palermo, visit the 12th-century cathedral and immerse yourself in the city's vibrant history and culture. In Monreale, admire the fine mosaics in the town's great Norman cathedral. Afterward, take in panoramic views of the surrounding valley, filled with orange, olive and almond trees. Day 7 Spend your last day in Sicily at the seaside town of Cefalu. Spend a few hours getting lost in a maze of tiny streets and ice-cream shops before heading Castelbuono, a picturesque village hidden in the Madonie Mountains. Get dropped off back at the airport at the end of your trip.

Other Sightseeing Options in Ragusa

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What people are saying about Ragusa

The trip to Ragusa, Modica and Noto was excellent… though, our guide didn’t speak much English and served more as a driver to each site than an actual guide. Some local information was provided and some rudimentary conversation was had in Italian. It would have been appreciated to have individual maps provided ahead of the drop-offs. The water bottles provided were appreciated. A little less time in Ragusa would have allowed a bit more time in Noto. The recommendation to visit the Bonajuta chocolatier in Modica was appreciated - and is highly recommended. Our ‘guide’ was an excellent driver and did make two stops so that some great panoramic photos could be taken of Ragusa and Noto. Highly recommend visiting all three towns - given our circumstances, it was the best way for us to enjoy them within our schedule. Much appreciated!

We were able to book this tour from Taormina. It was an extra long drive, but just outstanding. All three towns are different, but all were not to be missed. If your just thinking about going to Noto, don’t. Ragusa and Monica are wonderful. Allisio was an outstanding guide, knowledgeable and considerate in every way. He added greatly to the tour with his knowledge of the area and its history. Don’t miss this one.

Amazing experience! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, and humorous. His expertise made this tour so enjoyable and it was the highlight to our entire vacation. I won’t forget this tour and I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking to diversify their experience in Sicily.

We had a great with Alessio and Natalie. They made made it a very fun day. Loved visiting all three towns.

Very informative and interesting. 2 hours was perfect, then siesta!