The Sicilian baroque is an icon in the area known as Val di Noto. After the devastating earthquake of 1693, these places were rebuilt with this style of decorations. Discover the rich of ghostly masks and elaborate stone carvings. First discover Noto, the capital of Sicilian baroque. Walk among the wonderful buildings of the Garden of Stone and admire the elegance and sinuosity of the architectural elements. The itinerary continues towards Modica, a city of ancient origins and with an excellent culinary tradition. Taste the different varieties of Modica chocolate, famous and known throughout the world. Ragusa Ibla completes the full immersion in the Baroque with its characteristic alleys, opulent buildings and Iblei gardens.

Experience Southeast Italy through the perspective of the popular Italian television series Inspector Montalbano. This tour visits the places of Inspector Montalbano, the series main character, in Punta Secca, Ragusa, and Scicli. Meet your guide in Catania and head to the quaint villa of Punta Secca. Visit the inspector's seafront house, Marinella. Continue on to Ragusa to explore the many alleyways of its historic center. Take note as you walk through the backdrop of many scenes in the series. Afterward, go to the town of Scicli. As you wander through its historic center admire the many Baroque buildings and churches featured in the series, including the town hall, which served as the location of the Vigata police station.

Learn the ancient history of Sicily on a full-day sightseeing tour that takes you to the archaeological park of Neapolis where you can visit classical monuments of Greek and Roman Syracuse at your own pace on a self-guided tour. Following a pick-up from your accommodation in Catania, transfer to the ruins of Syracuse, now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your walk, discover many old Roman streets, as well as monuments such as the Greek Theatre, whose cavea is one of the largest ever built by the ancient Greeks. Near the Greek Theatre, you will see the latomie, including the limestone cave known as the “Ear of Dyonisius,” as well as the Christian Church of San Nicolò ai Cordari. Admire the Amphitheatre of the Roman imperial age, and more. Then, continue to Ortygia Island to experience the historic heart of Syracuse. Located at the park’s eastern end, and separated by a narrow channel, Ortygia is filled with Greek temples, Christian churches, and Arabian streets. Visit the Arethusa fountain and Piazza del Duomo, where the baroque palaces, such as Beneventano del Bosco Palace and Senate Palace are among the most beautiful in Sicily. After lunch (own expense), go to the small town of Noto, noted for its unique style of Sicilian Baroque architecture, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Wander the open-air museum and beautiful Corso Vittorio Emanuele to admire the many palaces and churches that, grouped together, are known as the “Stone Garden.”

Journey through the Sicilian baroque on a private day tour from Syracuse. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ragusa Ibla, Modica, and Noto on walking tours. See the Duomo of San Giorgio, the Church of San Giorgio, the Church of San Pietro, and more. After pickup in Syracuse, make your first stop in the old Baroque city of Ragusa Ibla. Admire numerous 18th-century churches and buildings on which important sculptors and architects worked. Hear about the famous "Baroque of the Noto Valley." Next, discover another jewel of the Sicilian Baroque: Modica. Stroll through the town and admire its churches, noble palace facades, fountains, the Pizzo viewpoint, San Giorgio Church, San Pietro Church, and the ruins of the castle. From there, continue toward the capital of Baroque: Noto. Walk around the city and marvel at its historic palaces, churches, terraces, and stairways, all built with a local stone with a golden color. Visit the Porta Reale — the real city gate — and the Cathedral of San Nicolò. See the most important building in the town, the Palazzo Ducezio, before continuing on a few steps to the Via Nicolaci, famous throughout the world for its infiorata (flower carpets).

The first stop on this 8-hour tour is Noto, the Garden of Stone, noted for its Baroque heritage. After the massive 1693 earthquake, Noto was rebuilt on Meti Hill. The town’s origins date to the Early Bronze Age. Continue to Modica and visit the oldest chocolate factory in Sicily. The city also has a rich history and a wonderful architectural heritage. See the cathedrals of San Giorgio and San Pietro and the Palazzo Polara and Palazzo Napolino-Tommasi Rosso, among others. Ragusa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage in 2002 for its monuments of the late Baroque period. Visit examples of this style including its cathedrals and palaces.

Benefit from pick-up in Catania or Taormina, and then journey by air-conditioned vehicle on a locations tour of the TV series "Inspector Montalbano" in southeast Sicily. Discover the real locations of imaginary sites such as Mànnara, the town of Vigata where the TV drama was set and the small fishing village of Punta Secca where Montalbano lived in fictional Marinella. Get the chance to enjoy lunch at the Da Enzo a Mare restaurant, where many scenes from the series, adapted from the novels by Andrea Camilleri, were shot.

Marvel at beautiful landscapes, taste delicious Sicilian wine, and soak up a delightful Baroque atmosphere on a 3-hour tour in Ragusa. There is only one way to discover Ragusa and that is to cross it. In order to do so you need really comfortable shoes, a strong desire to get to know the place, a perfect visual memory to capture the beauties of this splendid land, and some space in your heart to bring back home the Sicilian hospitality and generosity. Recall in your memory the old Italian films where life ticks slowly by with no excitement, only with silent admiration: simple doorways and well decorated portals, gates and windows adorned with flowers, jutting balconies supported by grotesque masks, sumptuous decorations of churches, deformed simplicity of narrow steps, and small quiet alleyways.  Traditionally, the best way to serve this magnificent baroque atmosphere is Sicilian wine. Ragusa is a wine-connoisseurs’ paradise: red or white, but always intense, deep, and unexpectedly rich. The soil composition, lots of sunshine days, and healthy biodiversity make excellent conditions to maintain the antique wine tradition in Sicily. 

Our first stop is in Ragusa Ibla, where you will see some of the TV show's filming locations, including the fascinating Hyblean garden and the Corso 25 Aprile. Along the way you'll see the commissioner's favourite trattoria, the Vigata police station (in Piazza Pola) and the Vigata Square (Piazza Duomo), where you can also explore the Cathedral of San Giorgio. In a vast area full of carob and olive trees, you will see the Castle of Donnafugata and its breathtaking views from the terrace. As you walk around the park, memories of iconic scenes from the TV series will come flooding back. Of course, the tour wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Montalbano house, and so we head to the small fishing village of Punta Secca. Marinella is a charming village that overlooks the Mediterranean; a hamlet of Santa Croce Camerina. Here you can admire the characteristic lighthouse. The last stop of the Montalbano tour will be Scicli, to see the Palazzo del Municipio (the Quaestor of Montelusa's room) and Palazzo Iacono (the Police of Montelusa Headquarters).

Discover the most important buildings and monuments, enjoy hidden corners of Ortigia and feel the exceptional atmosphere of Southern Italy visiting colorful fruit and fish markets. See the Greek Apollo Temple, Archimedes Square with neoclassical Fountain of Diana which displays the glorious past of Syracuse, the Cathedral Square, and Palazzo Beneventano. Pass through the Jewish Quarter and on to Arethusa Fountain. Then, reach the port where you will be presented to the boat commander and your marine adventure will begin. Sail along the coastline exploring beautiful limestone caves with a possibility to dive into crystalline waters of the Ionian Sea from the boat. Enjoy a traditional lunch of locally produced cheeses, salami, prosciutto, mushrooms, vegetables, fresh bread, and homemade olive oil accompanied by excellent local wine.

The first stop of this surprising experience will be Noto. You will visit the palaces, churches, terraces, all built with local stone. After the visit of the small town, you will continue the Tour of Noto and the chocolate of Modica, discovering another jewel of Sicilian Baroque. This is a real journey into the tradition of Sicilian life. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful town of Modica with its churches, the facades of the noble palaces, as well as its winding alleys. In the town stand out the facades of the churches of San Giorgio and San Pietro, the ruins of the castle.  But you cannot visit Modica without tasting its renowned chocolate. You will visit Modica's oldest sweet shop and conclude with a tasting of the different types of chocolates the bakery produces.