Scicli day trip from Modica or Ragusa or Noto
A day trip to Scicli from Modica, Ragusa or Noto: Piazza Italia and the masks of Palazzo Beneventano, the Baroque Via Mormino Penna and the town hall that plays Montalbano's police station, Palazzo Spadaro, the climb to San Matteo and the church of San Bartolomeo, then the ruined Fornace Penna on the coast and the beach at Sampieri. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Scicli in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Scicli (Piazza Italia)
The long main square with its palm trees, the mother church of Sant'Ignazio and cafés, at the heart of the Baroque town.
Palazzo Beneventano
Baroque palace whose balconies and corners are carved with grotesque masks and heads, one of the most unusual in the Val di Noto.
Via Francesco Mormino Penna and San Giovanni Evangelista
Scicli's finest street, lined with Baroque palaces and churches, crowned by the curved facade of San Giovanni Evangelista.
Town Hall of Scicli (the Commissariato di Vigàta)
Town hall whose offices played the police station of Vigàta in the Montalbano series; the rooms can be visited.
Palazzo Spadaro
Noble palace on Via Mormino Penna with restored rooms and painted ceilings that show how Scicli's Baroque families lived.
Colle di San Matteo: Church of San Matteo and the viewpoint
The hill of the old town, with the abandoned former mother church of San Matteo and a view over Scicli's rooftops.
Church of San Bartolomeo, Scicli
Late Baroque church set against the rock at the mouth of a valley, with a tall facade and an old nativity scene inside.
Fornace Penna
Ruined brick kiln on the sea near Sampieri, its brick arches standing over the rocks, seen in the Montalbano series.
Sampieri beach
Long sandy beach by an old fishing village, with dunes and calm water, good for a late swim and a seafood dinner.
Watch: Scicli
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Modica Scicli is about 15 minutes by car, or a regional bus or train; from Ragusa about 35 minutes and from Noto about 50 minutes by car. The coast at Sampieri and the Fornace Penna is a short drive below the town, so a car makes the afternoon easy.
Staying in Modica or Ragusa or Noto? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Scicli
Spring and autumn are the best for walking the town, and the sea at Sampieri is warm from June to October. July and August are hot, so see the town early and go to the beach later. Easter Sunday brings the Festa dell'Uomo Vivo, with the statue of the risen Christ carried running through the streets.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Scicli on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Scicli on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Scicli 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 Scicli
- Leave the car outside the centre: the Baroque streets are small and best walked.
- Wear good shoes for the climb up the Colle di San Matteo; the view over the town's three valleys is the reward.
- Churches often close at midday; see them in the morning or late afternoon.
- The Fornace Penna is a fenced ruin, seen from outside; combine it with a swim and a seafood dinner at Sampieri.
- Fans of Inspector Montalbano can visit the town hall rooms used as the police station in the television series.
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
- Church of San Bartolomeo, Scicli: Club Unesco Scicli, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Colle di San Matteo: Church of San Matteo and the viewpoint: Jilligate, CC BY 4.0
- Fornace Penna: unknown author, FAL
- Historic centre of Scicli (Piazza Italia): trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palazzo Beneventano: Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo Spadaro: Jilligate, CC BY 4.0
- Sampieri beach: kirandulo from Hungary, CC BY 2.0
- Town Hall of Scicli (the Commissariato di Vigàta): Rambolola, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Via Francesco Mormino Penna and San Giovanni Evangelista: Jilligate, CC BY 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
