Archaeological Park of Cava d'Ispica

Modica, whose county was the capital of one of the most important feudal states of southern Italy, was born on the sides of two narrow valleys. Its twine of restricted alleys discloses wonderful Baroque buildings and churches which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The territory of Modica rises in a geographical landscape whose beauty is more than rare. It is characteirsed by deep canyons that influence the calcareous Hyblaean plateau. Therefore, Modica will strike your imagination by virtue of its different landscapes, monuments, and traditional delicacies. All these elements are the result of a long historical process that began in prehistory.

The ancient history of the territory of Modica is still perfectly visible in Cava d’Ispica which is a naturally valuable canyon without any doubts. It shows prehistoric tombs, Paleo-christian catacombs, rocky churches and troglodyte dwellings that were inhabited from the Middle Ages to the 1950s.

The tour will start from the Archaeological Park of Cava Ispica to reach the rocky dwellings of Pernamazzone and the Sicanian Castle together with the prehistoric necropolis of Calicantone. In the afternoon, we will go to Modica to visit its Baroque and late medieval monuments and to taste the incredible sweetness of its fine chocolate.