Modica, Ragusa and Scicli from Malta: a baroque road trip

The baroque interior of Sicily: different from what you expect

The 1693 Val di Noto earthquake destroyed most of southeastern Sicily. What rose from the rubble was one of the most concentrated collections of Baroque architecture anywhere in Europe. UNESCO recognised seven towns in this region as a World Heritage Site in 2002. Three of them — Ragusa, Modica, and Scicli — are reachable as a day trip from Malta.

This is the outlier among Sicily day trips from Malta. No volcano, no coastal drama, no ancient Greek theatre. Instead: stone hill towns built in layers up limestone valleys, ornate church facades carved in the local golden limestone, and Modica’s extraordinary cold-process chocolate that genuinely tastes unlike anything made elsewhere.

The trade-off is driving time. Ragusa Ibla is approximately 90 km from Catania — nearly 2 hours by coach on Sicilian mountain roads. The full baroque circuit, visiting all three towns, means roughly 3 hours of coach travel across the day. This is the most sedentary of the Malta-Sicily options and works best for people who find architecture and slow-paced walking more rewarding than active outdoor exploration.

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The three towns: what to expect

Ragusa Ibla

The jewel of the route. Ragusa is technically two towns: Ragusa Alta (the upper, newer city rebuilt on the plateau after 1693) and Ragusa Ibla (the lower old city, rebuilt on the original medieval site using the same limestone). Most tours spend their time in Ibla, as Ragusa Alta is more functional than beautiful.

The approach to Ragusa Ibla is one of the great architectural arrivals in Sicily. You descend from the plateau into a valley, then climb a long baroque staircase past successive terraces of ochre stone buildings to reach the Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral of San Giorgio — its convex baroque facade framed by the staircase below — is considered the masterpiece of the Sicilian baroque architect Rosario Gagliardi.

Allow at least 90 minutes in Ragusa Ibla: the Piazza del Duomo, the church, the network of streets running north from the piazza, and the belvedere views across the valley. The best gelato in town is at Gelati DiVini on Via Capitano Bocchieri.

Modica

Modica is built across two converging valleys with the main town centre at the junction. Like Ragusa, it has upper and lower sections (Modica Alta and Modica Bassa). Tours typically stop in the lower town around Corso Umberto I, the main pedestrian street lined with baroque palaces and, above all, chocolate shops.

Modica chocolate is the thing that makes this stop different from anywhere else in Sicily. The recipe dates to the Aztec method imported via Spain in the 17th century: cocoa mass, sugar, spices — no cocoa butter, no emulsifiers. The chocolate is gritty, intensely flavoured, and made cold rather than conched. The sugar crystallises within the chocolate mass, giving it a unique texture. The traditional flavours are cinnamon and vanilla; modern producers add chilli, carob, and others.

The most famous producers are Bonajuto (the oldest bar, since 1880, on Corso Umberto) and Antica Dolceria Rizza. Buy at least two bars of different flavours. They travel well.

Time in Modica: typically 45–60 minutes on a three-town day, enough for the corso and the chocolate.

Scicli

Scicli is the quietest and least touristed of the three. A valley town of about 24,000 inhabitants, it has the most lived-in quality — fewer souvenir shops, more locals going about their day. The Palazzo Beneventano facade and the Church of San Bartolomeo (with its dramatic hilltop silhouette above the valley) are the architectural highlights. Some tours use Scicli as a lunch stop rather than a formal sight.

Time in Scicli: 30–45 minutes, often structured around lunch.

Ragusa, Modica and Scicli day trip from Malta

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The day trip structure

06:30 — Catamaran departs Marsa ferry terminal
10:30 — Arrive Catania port
12:00 — Arrive Scicli or Modica (90 min coach from Catania)
12:00–13:00 — Lunch stop and first town visit
13:30 — Arrive second town (Modica or Ragusa Ibla)
13:30–14:30 — Visit and chocolate shopping
15:00 — Arrive Ragusa Ibla
15:00–16:00 — Explore Ragusa Ibla
16:00 — Coach back to Catania (1.5–2 hours)
16:30 — Catamaran departs Catania
20:30 — Arrive Marsa

Note: the order of towns varies by operator. Some start in Ragusa and end in Modica; others do the reverse. The specific structure should be confirmed at booking.

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This day trip is not for everyone

Be honest with yourself before booking this one.

The driving is real. Three hours in a coach across a full day of travel is a lot, especially combined with 8 hours on a catamaran. If you find long coach journeys uncomfortable, the Etna-based routes involve far less driving.

No beach, no volcano, no dramatic coast. This is purely an architectural and cultural day. If you want active outdoor experience, the Etna routes or Taormina deliver more variety.

Ragusa Ibla is the star. If you only have time for one of these towns, make it Ragusa Ibla. The staircase ascent to the San Giorgio cathedral is the single most powerful visual experience on any Sicily day trip from Malta.

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Who this day trip is for

• Architecture lovers who have already seen Malta’s baroque heritage (Valletta, Mdina) and want to compare the Sicilian version
• Slow-travel types who prefer walking through quiet streets over crowded viewpoints
• Food lovers who take chocolate seriously
• Travellers on their second or third Malta visit who want something new

Skip it if:

• This is your only Sicily day — Taormina or Etna + Syracuse offer more variety
• You have fewer than 6 days in Malta — your time is better spent in the Maltese islands
• You have young children — the coach-heavy day is very hard on small children
• You are prone to car/motion sickness — winding Sicilian mountain roads can be challenging

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Practical information

Cost: €110–150 per person including catamaran, guide, and coach transport in Sicily. Lunch is sometimes included (confirm at booking) — budget €15–20 if not.

What to buy: Modica chocolate. Buy more than you think you will need — it keeps for months and makes excellent gifts. The Bonajuto shop on Corso Umberto is the most famous but not the only good producer.

What to wear: Comfortable walking shoes (both Ragusa Ibla and Modica involve climbing stone staircases). Light clothing in summer (it can be very hot in July-August in the interior). A jacket in spring and autumn — the plateau towns can be cool and windy.

Photography: Ragusa Ibla photographs best in afternoon light (the staircase and San Giorgio facade face west). Modica’s Corso Umberto is better in morning or overcast light. Both are crowded in July-August.

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Frequently asked questions about the Ragusa-Modica-Scicli day trip from Malta

Is Modica chocolate really that different?

Yes. The cold-process method means the cocoa mass is never heated above 40°C — the sugar crystals remain intact rather than melting into the chocolate. The result is a grainy, intensely flavoured bar that tastes more like concentrated spiced cocoa than modern chocolate. It is genuinely unlike anything else. Buy both classic (cinnamon or vanilla) and modern flavours to compare.

Which town is the highlight of this day trip?

Ragusa Ibla. The baroque staircase leading up to the San Giorgio cathedral, with the valley and the upper town visible beyond, is the single most impressive architectural sequence on any Sicily day trip from Malta. If you have to choose one town to spend the most time in, choose Ibla.

Is this day trip suitable for people with mobility issues?

Partly. Both Ragusa Ibla and Modica involve significant staircases and uneven stone streets. Ragusa Ibla in particular requires climbing a long baroque staircase to reach the main piazza. A wheelchair would be very difficult; anyone with knee or ankle issues should be aware of the terrain. Scicli is more manageable.

How does baroque Sicily compare with baroque Malta?

Both baroque traditions emerged from similar historical circumstances — Counter-Reformation patronage and 17th-century reconstruction after earthquake or Ottoman threat. Maltese baroque (Valletta, Mdina) tends toward the restrained and monumental; Sicilian baroque is more theatrical and ornate, with curved facades, cascading staircases, and exuberant stone carving. Seeing both gives you a broader picture of what the Mediterranean baroque could become.

Can you buy Modica chocolate and bring it back to Malta?

Yes. Modica chocolate contains no dairy products in the traditional recipe, so it is not subject to EU dairy import restrictions. It keeps well at room temperature for 6–12 months. It is allowed in hand luggage on flights and is a standard souvenir for Malta-based travellers doing this day trip.

Is Scicli worth visiting separately from Modica and Ragusa?

For most visitors on the Malta day trip, Scicli functions as a welcome change of pace rather than a headline attraction. If you had more time in Sicily, it would be worth a longer stop. In the context of the Malta day trip, it is a pleasant addition rather than a reason in itself to choose this route over others.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20