Topography
Modica, with its picturesque situation on the southern slopes of the Monti Iblei, 15km/9mi southeast of Ragusa, can be traced back to the Sikel settlement of Motyka. In the Middle Ages, under the rule of the noble families of Cabrera and Enriquez, both Spanish by
origin, it was the capital of a county of the same name.
In the earthquake of 1693 it suffered severe damage; admittedly some of the older buildings were spared and have indeed survived to the present time, but essentially the town had to be rebuilt. This explains the predominantly Baroque townscape, both in the lower town huddled down in the valley, and in the upper town situated on a spur of rock.
From the Ponte Guerrieri, the bridge (155m/509ft high) spanning the River Irminio, there is an impressive view of the town.
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