Scicli: Baroque Sicily between Art and Coast

Scicli is located in the Val di Noto and is a destination for discovering Baroque Sicily. The town is one of the eight urban components of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.” At the same time, Scicli has 20 kilometers of coastline, 18 kilometers of fine sandy beaches, and four seaside resorts. This brings historic townscapes, art, and coastal landscapes together, providing a versatile basis for a trip that combines different interests.

Baroque Town and Distinctive Art Sites

A defining ensemble is formed by Via Francesco Mormino Penna, with its aristocratic buildings from the 18th century. The Chiesa di Santa Teresa complements this townscape with decorative art, a painted vaulted ceiling, and white stone decorations on the columns. Particularly striking are the geometric inlays of black and white stone in the church floor.

The Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista also has richly designed interior furnishings with stucco and gilding. The church is additionally home to a 17th-century work from Spain, the so-called “Cristo di Burgos.” It depicts Christ on the cross wearing priestly vestments; this iconography is considered very rare in Italy.

For art enthusiasts, Palazzo Spadaro offers a particular focus: it displays works by artists from the Gruppo di Scicli, including Piero Guccione and Franco Sarnari. The Museo del Costume di Scicli is dedicated to the history of clothing from the 18th century through the first half of the 20th century. It also contains objects relating to traditional folk embroidery and weaving, as well as other exhibits of material culture.

At Palazzo Bonelli-Patanè, the focus is on a Liberty-style interior with stucco and valuable furniture. The collection also includes paintings by Raffaele Scalia, created between 1928 and 1938. La Stanza del Questore preserves original furnishings from the early 20th century, along with works by local artists. The cultural spectrum thus extends from Baroque architecture and regional traditions to 20th-century art.

Coast, Nature, and Distinctive Landscapes

The coast is an independent part of the destination. In addition to 18 kilometers of fine sandy beaches, Scicli’s coastal profile includes four seaside resorts. A different landscape can be found in the Macchia Foresta del Fiume Irminio nature reserve. It protects the river mouth and a Mediterranean coastal landscape with sandy banks, cliffs dropping into the sea, and shifting dunes.

Distinctive formations also appear inland and across the rocky landscapes. Cava di San Bartolomeo is a natural gorge formed in limestone by the San Bartolomeo stream. Chiafura, meanwhile, is a rock settlement of Byzantine origin that was inhabited until the 1950s. Both places represent a landscape whose history is closely connected with rock, water, and human settlement.

Churches, Festivals, and a Famous Film Setting

San Matteo rises on the hill above the town and was Scicli’s main church until 1874. Religious traditions also shape the festival calendar. The Feast of Madonna delle Milizie takes place on the last Saturday in May. It includes a staged re-enactment whose climax is the miraculous appearance of the Virgin riding a horse.

The Cavalcata di San Giuseppe takes place in March. It is a horse procession decorated with flowers that commemorates the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. Another attraction for culture enthusiasts is the Commissariato di Vigata on the ground floor of Scicli’s early-20th-century town hall. It represents the police station from the television series “Il Commissario Montalbano.”

More Destinations for Your Trip to Sicily

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Scicli, you can also find Santa Croce Camerina, Santa Maria Del Focallo, Ispica, Sampieri, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Punta Braccetto, Cava D'aliga and Punta Secca.

For the overarching travel overview: Ragusa.