Scicli

Scicli is in the Ragusa province of Sicily. The city is one of the eight "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto" listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand

The small town of Scicli is located in the southeast of Sicily and situated among the Iblei hills of Ragusa. The city sits in a valley at the confluence of the Fiume Irmino and three other rivers (which, however, dry out in the summer). The town is within 6 miles from the small sea-side villages of Plaja Grande, Donnalucata, Cava D'Aliga and Sampieri. Scicli was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1693 and was rebuilt in the style of the Sicilian Baroque, leading to many of its architectural attractions.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Catania Airport. The Catania airport is the nearest international airport, and AST buses can be taken to reach most destinations. (updated Feb 2016)

• 2 Comiso Airport (CIY) (Vincenzo Magliocco Airport). The Comiso Airport has been recently modernized and converted for civilian use. It is provided as an alternate airport in the event the Catania airport has to cease operations because of volcanic activity. (updated Feb 2016)

By train

• 3 Scicli Station. Scicli is through the 1 line serviced by Trenitalia. Trains come to and from Syracuse, Canicatti, Scigli, Modica, and Gela. (updated Feb 2016)

By bus

Bus connections are served by the Azienda Siciliana Trasporti (AST) in the south of the province of Ragusa, and especially towards Modica.

By car

From the A18 Messina - Syracuse (which currently ends at Rosolini), Scicli can be reached via SS115 which makes a sharp turn into Ispica and heads toward Modica.

From the SS115, getting to Scicli is best achieved by taking the SP42. If coming directly from the city center of Modica, the SP54 can be used. A star-shaped network of provincial roads connect Scicli with the environment; you can take the SP40 from Sampieri and SP39 from Donnalucata on the coast.

By boat

In the coastal towns near Scicli, only Donnalucata has a marina. Pozzallo in the east serves as a trading port and also has speedboat connections with Malta.

Get around

By Foot

Scicli is a small town and most places are within walking distance (less than 2 miles) of one another. The terrain can be quite steep, so good walking shoes are recommended.

By Bus

There area is serviced by the AST bus system. It should be noted that there are not many bus stops within the town.

See

Saint Matteo Church (Chiesa di San Matteo)

Saint Matteo Church (Chiesa di San Matteo)

Saint John the Evangelist Church (Chiesa San Giovanni Evangelista)

Interior view of Saint John the Evangelist Church (Chiesa San Giovanni Evangelista)

Church of Saint Bartolomeo (Chiesa di San Bartolomeo)

Church of the Rosary (Chiesa del Rosario)

Chiafura

• Chiafura. This is an ancient neighborhood, now an archaeological park, that was carved into the rock. In ancient times the area was used as a cemetery. It was gradually transformed into a settlement in the early medieval period, coinciding with the Arab conquest, and was occupied without interruption until the middle of 900. (updated Feb 2016)

Castles and Palaces

• 1 Palazzo Beneventano. This is an excellent example of the Baroque style in Scicli. This palace features interesting gargoyles on the balcony lintels. (updated Feb 2016)

Churches

• 2 Saint Matteo Church (Chiesa di San Matteo), Via S. Matteo, 9. (updated Feb 2016)
• 3 Chiesa rupestre del Rosario (Chiesa della Madonna di Monserrato). This church was built around 1516 on the hill Monte Campagna that overlooks the city. A statue of the Madonna is here and has numerous healings attributed to it. (updated Feb 2016)
• 4 Church of Saint John the Evangelist (Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista). This church stood next to a Benedictine Monastery, whose place in the early 20th century was taken by the Palazzo Municipale. The church was built sometime between 1760 and 1765. It has a concave-convex baroque façade with three levels and a large, oval dome with stained glass windows. The interior walls and ceiling are covered in paintings and stucco reliefs. (updated Feb 2016)

Do

• The Festa delle Milizie. This event commemorates the dispute between the Saracens and Christians (the Normans) in 1091. It takes place in the last week of May and celebrates the intervention of the Madonna delle Milizie (Virgin Mary, literally translated as the Madonna of the Militia) on behalf of the Christians. The events are replayed as an open air game and the week finishes with religious services. (updated Feb 2016)

Eat

• 1 Pasticceria Basile, viale I Maggio n. 3, ☏ +39 333 678 5876. This bakery has been in business since 1966. They offer an assortment of pastries in addition to chocolates, candy, and local honey. (updated Feb 2016)

Sleep

• 1 Novacento, Via Duprè, 11. This palace has been converted into a hotel. The interior is clean and bright. This hotel has free breakfast, a restaurant, and a café with outdoor seating. Car parking is offered and bike rentals are available. (updated Feb 2016)