Modica, Sicily, Italy Mar 2, 2024

Modica, Sicily, Italy

When Italy comes to mind, iconic cities like Milan, Rome, and Venice often steal the spotlight. However, on the island of Sicily lies a less famous gem—Modica. It"s a city that rose from the rubble of an earthquake in 1693 to become an architectural wonderland of Baroque-style buildings. With fewer than 60,000 inhabitants, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts cobbled lanes, echoing with powerful footprints—from prehistoric tribes to the ancient Greeks and Romans to the medieval Arabs and Normans. Landmarks like the San Giorgio Cathedral and San Pietro Church awe visitors with their grandeur, and Modica"s famous chocolate, crafted with Aztec-inspired techniques, tempts the palates of food enthusiasts. So, the next time Italy beckons, how about taking the road less traveled to Modica?

© Sandro Bisaro/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Mar 2, 2018Satellite image of sand and seaweed in the Bahamas
Mar 2, 2019You won’t see this on Mulberry Street
Mar 2, 2020And to think that I saw it in Cappadocia
Mar 2, 2021Fall for Chile
Mar 2, 2022Mount Rainier National Park
Mar 2, 2023Negratín Reservoir, Granada, Spain
Mar 2, 2025Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, Australia
Mar 2, 2026Harbor and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 20, 2018Buddha in the roots of a tree, Ayutthaya, Thailand
Nov 6, 2019Saffron in bloom
Feb 13, 2026Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand
Aug 8, 2023Infinity Day
Oct 16, 2020It s harvest time on World Food Day
Feb 15, 2019Snow aglow in central Japan
Jul 16, 2021Whatever floats your boat
Oct 24, 2023Füzér Castle in the Zemplén Mountains, Hungary
Sep 7, 2019Cloudy with a chance of enlightenment
Feb 21, 2022Presidents Day
Nov 21, 2025World Hello Day
Nov 5, 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
Feb 19, 2026Dragons Eye, Uttakleiv Beach, Norway
Jun 28, 2022Tafilalet oasis in Morocco
Aug 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Mar 5, 2023Cherry blossom season in Tokyo
Mar 9, 2018The Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin
Aug 12, 2021Haven t you herd? It s World Elephant Day!
Oct 3, 2019Love on ice
Jul 19, 2020Venice by night
Sep 17, 2018Gateway to America
Sep 16, 2018Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
Jan 18, 2019An opulent backdrop for a historic event
May 17, 2023Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California
Feb 18, 2022Great Backyard Bird Count
Nov 5, 2020A medieval Moorish gem
May 18, 2022International Museum Day
Jan 14, 2026National Take the Stairs Day
Feb 25, 2019High above the reef
Aug 18, 2020Women s suffrage at 100