#baroquecity

Views of the town as we drive on to Modica.

Ragusa is built on a grid system, unusual although not unheard of in Sicily. After the 1693 earthquake it was split into two and half was laid out as a grid, similar to the reconstruction of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. Note the classic Baroque cathedral.

Just off of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele (there’s one in every village, town, and city) is the Via Corrado Nicolai. The Inflorata Flower Festival takes place in May every year. Local artists use flowers and flower petals to create colourful  masterpieces covering this whole street. Note the balconies.

Noto seems to soak up the sunlight, then shine with its golden hues. Originally known as Netum, the entire town was destroyed in an earthquake in 1693 then rebuilt a few years later, eight miles further south, almost entirely out of golden tufta stone. This was during the Baroque period so the town has a very uniform and planned feel, unlike the jumbled (yet still beautiful) towns and villages we have visited.

Try the almonds and pistachios. Nuts harvested from local orchards.  

Beautiful vineyards in the countryside