Baroque churches in a valley and chocolate made with an Aztec recipe
Modica spreads across two hills and the valley between them, a cascade of houses, staircases and baroque churches. Rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, it is one of the towns of the Val di Noto listed by UNESCO. Its symbol is the cathedral of San Giorgio, with a monumental façade at the top of a flight of 250 steps, and the church of San Pietro, whose staircase is lined with statues of the apostles.
Modica is famous throughout Italy for its chocolate, made with a technique brought from Mexico by the Spaniards: the cocoa is worked "cold", without conching, so the sugar does not melt and the chocolate keeps a grainy texture and an intense flavour. It is the first chocolate in Europe to have obtained the IGP protected designation, and it comes in flavours such as cinnamon, vanilla and chilli.
Tip: visit the historic Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, open since 1880, and try the "mpanatigghi", pastries filled with chocolate and minced meat.
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