Ispica and Pozzallo day trip from Modica or Noto or Ragusa
A day trip to Ispica and Pozzallo from Modica, Noto or Ragusa: the Parco della Forza, medieval Ispica in the gorge with its cave dwellings and the Centoscale stair cut through the rock, the Baroque basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Palazzo Bruno di Belmonte and the Liberty-style Corso Umberto, the basilica of the Santissima Annunziata, then Pozzallo by the sea, with the Torre Cabrera and an evening on the seafront and Pietre Nere beach. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Ispica and Pozzallo in 1 day
Day 1
Parco della Forza (Cava d'Ispica) and the Centoscale
The medieval town in the gorge below Ispica, with cave houses, rock-cut churches and the Centoscale, a stair dug down to water.
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Ispica
Baroque basilica with eighteenth-century frescoes by Olivio Sozzi and the curved Loggiato del Sinatra in front of it.
Palazzo Bruno di Belmonte
Ernesto Basile's Liberty-style palace, now Ispica's town hall, seen mostly from outside for its elegant early twentieth-century façade.
Historic centre of Ispica and the Liberty-style Corso Umberto
Ispica's main street, lined with Baroque churches and early twentieth-century Liberty palaces, for a slow walk and a coffee.
Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata, Ispica
Baroque basilica begun in 1703 after the great earthquake, its nave and transept covered in Giuseppe Gianforma's eighteenth-century stucco panels.
Torre Cabrera, Pozzallo
Fifteenth-century watchtower of the Cabrera counts of Modica on Pozzallo's seafront, closed for restoration and seen from outside.
Pozzallo seafront and Pietre Nere beach
Pozzallo's long sandy beaches and seafront promenade by the port where the Malta ferry leaves; good for a late swim, fish and granita.
Getting there
By car, Ispica is about 20 minutes from Modica, 30 from Noto and 40 from Ragusa, and Pozzallo is about 15 minutes from Ispica. Regional trains on the Siracusa-Ragusa line stop at Ispica and Pozzallo, but they are few and the stations are outside the centres.
Staying in Modica or Noto or Ragusa? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Ispica and Pozzallo
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking the gorge and the town. Summer is hot, but good for Pozzallo's beaches. Holy Week is Ispica's great event, when the confraternities of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Annunziata carry their statues of Christ through the town on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Ispica and Pozzallo on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Ispica and Pozzallo on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Ispica and Pozzallo on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Ispica and Pozzallo
- Start at the Parco della Forza in the morning: opening hours change with the season, and it closes early on Sundays.
- Wear shoes with grip for the Parco della Forza; the Centoscale is a long, uneven stair cut down through the rock.
- Churches can close at lunchtime: check before you go, and cover shoulders and knees for the two basilicas.
- Torre Cabrera is closed for restoration, so see it from outside on the seafront and stay for the beach.
- End with a swim or a walk on Pozzallo's long sandy beach, and fresh fish or a granita on the seafront.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Ispica: Sten van Houwelingen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Parco della Forza (Cava d'Ispica) and the Centoscale: Leandro Distefano. Leandro Distefano Original uploader was Cypher84 at it.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
- Pozzallo seafront and Pietre Nere beach: Beric Dondarrion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Torre Cabrera, Pozzallo: Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
