Surroundings
Due to it’s central location, Villa Aguglie is ideal for guests who wish to visit the baroque cities of the Val di Noto, and also for those who love naturalistic and archaeological excursions, or simply want to relax and enjoy the golden beaches that the Iblean coast offers. Fans of the fiction “Il Commissario Montalbano” may also visit all the renowned locations of the series as these are all just a short drive away. Various wine cellars, agritourisms and restaurants, which offer our typical Sicilian wine and delicacies, are all within easy reach of the villa.
Modica
Modica, the baroque city of the Val di Noto, is located in the south east of Sicily and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage cities since 2002. It is a city of Neolithic origin, capital of an ancient and powerful county, which boasts rich gastronomic specialties, as well as a great artistic and cultural heritage. Today it is known above all for the production of the typical Aztec-derived chocolate. The historic center of the city, entirely rebuilt following the earthquake of 1693, is divided into two large districts, ‘Modica Alta’ and ‘Modica Bassa’. Today strolling through the streets of Modica one can admire the late Baroque palaces, churches with majestic steps and facades, and great masterpieces.
Ragusa Ibla
Ragusa Ibla is the ancient historic center of the city of Ragusa, famous throughout the world for its over fifty churches and numerous palaces, all built in the finest Baroque style. Located on a hill, the small village of Ibla dominates the surrounding valley, with its small houses and streets on which the majestic Cathedral of San Giorgio, built in the highest baroque architecture, reigns. In recent years, Ragusa Ibla has become one of the most important tourist attractions in Sicily.
In 2002 the city was listed among the Baroque UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Val di Noto. The city has become famous over the years thanks to the television series "Il Commissario Montalbano". If you are a true fan of fiction, here you may find the views and landscapes of ‘Vigata’ and ‘Montelusa’, Piazza Duomo and the ‘Circolo di Conversazione’ appearing in several episodes of the series.
Scicli
Scicli is a Baroque city in the Val di Noto, located in the south-eastern part of Sicily, set in a valley between three hills, about 25 km from Ragusa. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002, it is a must for those visiting the south east of Sicily and for all fans of the television series ‘Il Commissario Montalbano’, as most of the famous locations of the film set are found here. The city boasts very ancient origins, as evidenced by the late Byzantine remains found in the archaeological area of Chiafura, and was then rebuilt in a Baroque style following the earthquake of 1693.
Visiting Scicli means taking a dip in the past, among palaces, baroque churches and immersing yourself in the lively atmosphere of its historic streets.
Punta secca
Punta Secca is a small fishing village characterized by the presence of a small formation of rocks in front of the main beach. In the main square one finds the house of the ‘Commissario Montalbano’, made famous by the television series that goes by the same name. Although the house is not open to visitors, it is nonetheless the destination of thousands of fans of the series who go there specifically, just to take a picture in front of the terrace. Hundreds of tourists now flock to Punta Secca during the summer season, not only to relax on the fascinating golden beaches but also to visit the several restaurants, bars and clubs that enliven the evenings of this ancient village.
Noto
Declared by UNESCO as the European Capital of the Baroque, Noto is the city that best testifies typical and highly preserved examples of Sicilian baroque. For one to admire the white spectacle of the city, one should walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which starts from the monumental Porta Reale. Each of the three piazzas located along the corso, boasts a baroque church, the most majestic of which, the Cathedral, stands in Piazza Municipio.
Oasi Naturalistica di Vendicari
The Nature reserve of Vendicari was established in 1984. Vendicari is a wildlife oasis that rises between Noto and Marzamemi. The wetlands of the reserve are of great naturalistic interest, where different species of birds nest each year. The archaeological value is added to the environmental value, there are numerous remains of the Byzantine period such as churches and necropolis, but the real symbol of the Reserve is the eighteenth-century tuna factory.
Siracusa
Syracuse boasts a glorious past where it was once as important as the capital of Greece. Its immortal beauty makes it an unmissable destination. A city with a truly ancient history, Syracuse, now considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, was already defined by Cicero as "the largest and most beautiful Greek city". This location boasts not only the presence of splendid archaeological sites that date back to both the Greek and Roman periods, but also of beautiful beaches where you can relax after a tour of the city.
