Scicli

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Scicli is a city in the Province of Ragusa in the south east of Sicily. It is 25 kilometres from Ragusa, and 308 kilometres from Palermo. Together with another 7 cities in the Val di Noto, it has been listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

History

Scicli was founded by the Sicels (whence probably the name) around 300 BCE. In the Middle Ages, like all of Sicily, Scicli was ruled by the Arabs and then by the Normans. Following the various dynasties ruling the Kingdom of Sicily, it was a Spanish possession before being united in the Kingdom of Italy in the mid 19th century.

Following a catastrophic earthquake in 1693 much of the town was rebuilt in the Sicilian baroque style, which today gives the town the elegant appearance which draws many tourists to visit the city.

Main sights

• The church of Santa Marìa la Nova, with a huge Neoclassicist façade. The interior houses a cypresse-wood statue of Madonna della Pietà, probably of Byzantine origin.
• The Mother Church of St. Ignatz, housing the highly venerated image of Madonna dei Milìci (see Culture section).
• The scenographic St. Bartholomew in Baroque style.
• The Town Hall, the Palazzo Spadaro and the Palazzo Beneventano, all boasting Baroque decorations.

The church of St. Bartholomew.

Culture

The city is also notable for its religious parades which includes "Presepe" (nativity scenes) enacted in the caves surrounding the city at Christmas time. These caves known as the Chiarafura caves were dug out in the tufa cliffs, and some were inhabited by the local poor as recently as 1958.

At Easter the city celebrates with the parade "Uomo Vivo" which involves a long religious procession through the city. In March, there is parade of horses - decorated horses process from Scicli to the neighbouring town of Donnalucata. The most spectacular religious festival however is in May, known as "A Maronna i Milici", it commemorates the appearance of the Madonna on a white horse holding aloft a sword which encouraged the Christian Normans to victory over the Saracens in 1091.

The economy of the city is mostly agricultural, and the area is renowned for its many greenhouses which produce the "primizie" (early fruits), which are exported all over Italy.

World Heritage Sites in Italy