HV1750331167
Ragusa
Sicily South Coast
Our pick in Sicily South Coast
The Hidden Voyage guide
The South Coast of Sicily
The Valley of the Temples, baroque Ragusa and long sandy beaches.
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Ideal stay
7 to 10 nights
Fly into
CIY · CTA · PMO
Getting around
Car essential; distances are short and roads quiet
Our villas here
6 private villas
Why go
Why choose The South Coast of Sicily
Sicily's south coast faces Africa across the Mediterranean, a sunlit stretch of long sandy beaches, white cliffs and Greek temples. Inland, the honey coloured baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli spill down limestone ravines, rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1693. Villas here are often restored farmhouses among carob trees and dry stone walls, or modern homes steps from the sand.
This is a quieter Sicily, ideal for families and couples who want space, wide beaches and genuine local life. Food is a highlight, from Modica's chocolate to the Cerasuolo wine of Vittoria. Fans of the Inspector Montalbano series will recognise many of the piazzas and seafronts, while history lovers have the Valley of the Temples on the doorstep.
Ideal for: Families, Culture, Value · Relaxed, beach mornings and baroque evenings
Our villas of the month · October 2026
Chosen this month by our team
HV1708344326
Ragusa
Sicily South Coast
Our pick in Sicily South Coast
HV1557152252
Ragusa
Sicily South Coast
Our pick in Sicily South Coast
Getting there
Airports and arrivals
CIY
Comiso (Pio La Torre)
about 25 min by car to Ragusa, about 40 min to Scicli
closest airport for the Ragusa coast, with domestic and seasonal European flights
CTA
Catania Fontanarossa (Vincenzo Bellini)
about 1h30 by car to Ragusa, about 2h to Agrigento
main international gateway with the widest choice of flights
PMO
Palermo Falcone Borsellino
about 2h by car to Agrigento
good option for Agrigento and the western part of the coast
- A year round fast catamaran links Malta with Pozzallo in under two hours, a lovely way to combine both islands.
- Regional trains and coaches connect Agrigento with Palermo and Catania, though a car is far more practical along the coast.
- Ferries and fast boats to Lampedusa and Linosa depart from Porto Empedocle, near Agrigento.
We arrange private transfers, drivers, boats and helicopters for every villa.
Where to stay
Choosing your base
Ragusa Ibla
Couples, food lovers
The old lower town of Ragusa is a baroque jewel on a ridge, with fine restaurants and quiet lanes.
Modica
Culture, gastronomy
A dramatic town of churches and stairways climbing both sides of a valley, famous for its chocolate.
Scicli and Sampieri
Families, design lovers
Scicli is an intimate baroque town and Sampieri a fishing village on a long sandy beach a short drive away.
Marina di Ragusa and Punta Secca
Families, beach holidays
A lively seaside resort and a tiny lighthouse village known from the Montalbano series, both on sandy beaches.
Agrigento countryside
History lovers, couples
Villas among almond and olive groves with views towards the temples and the sea.
Sciacca
Wellness, authentic town life
A spa and fishing town on the south west coast, known for its ceramics, thermal waters and carnival.
Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.
What to see
The highlights
01
Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
A ridge of Doric temples, including the remarkably complete Temple of Concordia, overlooks the sea in one of the largest archaeological parks in the world. It is listed by UNESCO and spectacular at sunset.
02
Kolymbethra Garden
A green valley within the archaeological park, filled with citrus, almond and olive trees and irrigated by ancient channels. It is cared for by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano.
03
Ragusa Ibla
Steps and lanes lead to the Duomo di San Giorgio, a masterpiece of Sicilian baroque by Rosario Gagliardi. Ragusa is one of the UNESCO listed Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.
04
Modica
The church of San Giorgio stands at the top of a monumental staircase above the old town. The town's chocolate is made by a cold process that leaves sugar crystals intact.
05
Scicli
A small town with a wealth of baroque churches and palazzi, including the Palazzo Beneventano with its grotesque carved masks. Its town hall doubled as the police station in the Montalbano series.
06
Scala dei Turchi
A brilliant white marl cliff shaped into natural steps above the sea near Realmonte. Walking on the cliff itself is currently forbidden to protect it, but it can be admired from the beaches either side and from the sea.
07
Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina
A late Roman villa with some of the finest floor mosaics in the world, including the famous girls in bikinis. It is listed by UNESCO.
08
Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa
A protected coastline of cliffs, dunes and empty beaches managed by WWF, between Siculiana and Montallegro. It is perfect for walking and swimming in solitude.
What to do
Experiences worth planning for
Chocolate tasting in Modica
Visit a historic chocolate maker to learn about the cold processing method and taste flavours from cinnamon to chilli.
Sunset walk in the Valley of the Temples
Explore the temples in the soft evening light, when the stone turns gold and the crowds thin out.
Montalbano locations tour
Follow the fictional inspector through Scicli, Ragusa Ibla and Punta Secca with a local guide.
Cooking class in a farmhouse
Learn to make scacce and ricotta filled ravioli in a masseria in the Hyblaean countryside.
Wine tasting in Vittoria
Visit estates producing Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Frappato, Sicily's freshest and most fragrant reds.
By the sea
Beaches and coves
Sampieri
A long sandy beach backed by dunes, with the ruins of an old brick kiln on the headland.
Punta Secca
A small beach beside the lighthouse and the house of the fictional Montalbano.
Torre Salsa
Wild, unspoilt beaches within a nature reserve, reached on foot from car parks above.
Eraclea Minoa
A golden beach backed by pine woods and white cliffs, next to an ancient Greek site.
Marina di Modica
A pleasant family beach with soft sand and calm water.
Where to stay
Private villas in Sicily South Coast
At the table
Food and wine
What to eat
Cioccolato di Modica IGP
Grainy, aromatic chocolate made by cold processing, the first chocolate in Europe with protected status.
Scaccia ragusana
Thin layers of dough folded around tomato, cheese, aubergine or ricotta and baked.
Ragusano DOP
A rectangular stretched curd cheese made from the milk of Modicana cows.
Cannoli and cassatelle
Ricotta filled pastries that vary from village to village across the Hyblaean hills.
Mpanatigghi
Modica's half moon pastries filled with chocolate, almonds, spices and minced beef.
Arancia di Ribera DOP
Sweet, juicy oranges from the countryside near Sciacca and Agrigento.
What to drink
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Sicily's only DOCG, a blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato, fresh and cherry scented.
Vittoria DOC Frappato
A light, aromatic red to enjoy slightly chilled on summer evenings.
Sambuca di Sicilia DOC
Reds and whites from the hills inland from Sciacca.
Beyond the villa
Day trips
Noto
about 50 min by car from Modica
The most elegant of the baroque towns, golden at sunset.
Ortigia, Siracusa
about 1h15 by car from Modica
The ancient island heart of Siracusa, with Greek ruins and wonderful dining.
Villa Romana del Casale
about 1h30 by car from Agrigento
Exceptional Roman mosaics in the centre of the island.
Marzamemi and Vendicari
about 1h by car from Scicli
A fishing village and a coastal reserve with flamingos and beautiful beaches.
Malta
under 2h by catamaran from Pozzallo
A day in Valletta, easily reached across the sea.
When to go
The year, season by season
April to June and September to October.
Spring
Wild flowers cover the countryside and almond trees blossom early, perfect for sightseeing and walking. The sea is swimmable from late May.
Summer
Long sunny days, warm water and village festivals; the beaches are lively but rarely overcrowded outside August.
Autumn
September and October are warm and golden, ideal for the beach and the harvest. The light is beautiful for photography in the baroque towns.
Winter
Mild and quiet, with almond blossom in Agrigento from February. Many beach facilities close but the towns stay lively.
Weather month by month
Bars: hours of sunshine a day. Above: average daytime high. Below: sea temperature. Shaded: the best months.
Full weather table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime high, °C | 18 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 32 | 35 | 36 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 18 |
| Night low, °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 8 |
| Sea, °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 17 |
| Sunshine, hours a day | 5.9 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 9.2 | 10.3 | 12.7 | 12.2 | 11.9 | 9.6 | 7.5 | 6.1 | 5.9 |
| Rainy days | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Dry days | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 23 |
Air: averages 1991 to 2020, Catania Sigonella weather station. Inland station: summer afternoons on the coast are a few degrees cooler.. Sea: average surface temperature at Agrigento. Dry days have less than 1 mm of rain.
Events through the year
February to March
Mandorlo in Fiore, Agrigento
A festival of international folk groups celebrating the almond blossom in the Valley of the Temples.
March
Cavalcata di San Giuseppe, Scicli
Horses dressed in elaborate costumes of flowers parade through the town with bonfires lit along the way.
February
Carnevale di Sciacca
One of Sicily's most famous carnivals, with giant satirical floats.
Easter
Easter Sunday in Scicli
The Risen Christ, known locally as U Gioia, is carried at a run through the streets in a joyful celebration.
Planning The South Coast of Sicily?
Tell us your dates and the group: we reply with availability and the full price, usually within one working day, and arrange transfers, chefs and boats.
Good to know
Practical tips
- Ragusa Ibla, Modica and Scicli have ZTL zones and narrow, steep streets; use the car parks at the edge of the old towns.
- Climbing on the Scala dei Turchi cliff is prohibited by local ordinance; view it from the beaches or by boat.
- Visit the Valley of the Temples early or late in the day in summer, as there is little shade.
- Several towns charge a tourist tax per person per night, usually collected by the property.
- Comiso has fewer flights than Catania, so check schedules carefully, especially outside summer.
- Many baroque churches close in the early afternoon, so plan visits for the morning or late afternoon.
Questions
The South Coast of Sicily: frequently asked
Which airport is closest to Ragusa and Modica?
Comiso (CIY) is about 25 minutes from Ragusa, but has a limited number of routes. Catania (CTA) offers many more flights and is about 1h30 away.
Can you still walk on the Scala dei Turchi?
No. Access to the white cliff has been closed by the local authorities to protect it from erosion. It remains beautiful to see from the beaches nearby or from a boat.
Where was Inspector Montalbano filmed?
Mainly in the province of Ragusa, notably Scicli, Ragusa Ibla, Modica and Punta Secca, where the inspector's seaside house stands.
How long do I need for the Valley of the Temples?
Allow about three hours, plus extra time for the Kolymbethra Garden and the archaeological museum.
Is the south coast good for families?
Yes. The beaches are long, sandy and shallow, the pace is relaxed and the distances between towns are short.
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