Scicli

Scicli (pronounced like sheekly) is a small town among the Iblei hills in the Ragusa province on the southeast of Sicily. It is one of the "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto" listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand

The town 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 10 km 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.

Tourist information

Get in

By plane

The Catania airport is the nearest international airport, and AST buses can be taken to reach most destinations.

The Comiso Airport has been 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.

By train
  • 🌍 Scicli Station. Scicli is on the Siracusa-Ragusa line, connections to 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 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.

Get around

On foot

Scicli is a small town and most places are within walking distance (less than 3 km) of one another. The terrain can be quite steep, so good walking shoes are recommended.

By bus

There area is served by the AST bus system. There are not many bus stops in the town.

See

Churches
  • 🌍 Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista (Church of Saint John the Evangelist). 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)
  • 🌍 Chiesa di San Matteo, Via S. Matteo, 9. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 Chiesa rupestre del Rosario (Chiesa della Madonna di Monserrato). This "cave" 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)
  • 🌍 Chiesa S. Maria la Nova, ☏ +39 331 400 0858. Bell tower visits by an appointment. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Chiesa di Santa Maria della Consolazione. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Chiesa Santa Teresa. An interesting former church with a rectangular façade (17th-18th centuries). (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Complesso della Croce (ex Convento della Croce). An austere late Gothic convent which survived the earthquake of 1693. Now it belongs to the state. (updated Mar 2017)

Palazzi
  • 🌍 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)
  • 🌍 Palazzo Spadaro, via F.M.Penna, 34. Summer: 10:00-24:00. Built in 17th-18th centuries. The Pinacoteca comunale, which occupies the building, has a collection consists of works by artists of the Gruppo di Scicli. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Palazzo Fava. One of the first and largest Baroque palaces in the town. Its 18th-century façade is richly decorated. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Palazzo Veneziano-Sgarlata. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Palazzo Bonelli (Patanè), via F.M.Penna. Summer: 10:30-12:30 17:30-21:30 (Su until 22:30); winter: 16:30-23:30. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Palazzo Palle (Palazzo Municipio). Built at the beginning of the 20th century. (updated Mar 2017)

Other sites
  • 🌍 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 the tenth century. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 Villa Penna. A former private garden of the Barons of Penna. It's now a well kept villa comunale worth for a break in a hot day. At the topmost terraces on the west there is a Capuchin monastery. (updated Mar 2017)

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
  • 🌍 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
  • 🌍 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)

Go next
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