Going to have a car in south east Sicily for one or two days in July. We will be close to Ragusa, Modica and Noto.Trying to determine if best to stay and visit just one town - which one- or try to see them all and how much time is needed to get an introduction to this cultural region,
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7354 posts
Hi Brian- We were in Sicily just 2 years ago as of last week. We stayed in Modica for just one night on our short, moving-each-day trip, and would've stayed longer in Modica if we'd had the time. The artisanal chocolate shop Antica Dolceria Bonajuto is worth a lingering visit, and the town is a delightful mix of ornate churches, winding streets, and great restaurants. It had a very welcoming atmosphere, but be prepared to climb some stairs to get around, if you venture into the high town.
We stopped off in Noto, as the Lonely Planet guidebook described it as having the best gelato in Italy (quite an accomplishment!), but we found parking to be challenging, the locals critical of us trying to park in front of their house (no signs restricting parking, and other cars were parked along the curb on the street, so maybe it was just us), and once we got to the place, the gelato was icy. No gelato can be truly bad, and this was OK, but not exactly the best in Italy. The town looked nice and would make for a nice visit, but Modica would win hands-down between the two.
We passed Ragusa on the way to Siracusa, so can't offer suggestions either way, but our next visit to Sicily will definitely include more time in Modica!
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1506 posts
We had many more days in that area and stayed in Ragusa Ibla and Siracusa. One day will allow you to make quick visits to possibly three towns. We stopped in Noto for a couple of hours but could have stayed longer. We found a suggestion of where to park (near the football/soccer stadium) and had no problem. We also spent a few hours in Modica. We loved them all. What I sometimes do is to google the towns and look at the pictures then try to decide which to see in person. Not an easy decision!