Via Francesco Mormina Penna is one of the main arteries of Scicli’s historic center and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.” The street gently descends from Piazza Municipio and features a sequence of buildings ranging from the 17th to the 20th century. Key landmarks along the way include the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, the Church of Santa Teresa d’Avila, the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, and the Town Hall, built between 1902 and 1906 in an eclectic Neo-Renaissance style. The street is known for its harmonious blend of architectural styles, with façades in local limestone and Baroque decorations. It is a lively and well-frequented place, hosting cultural events and religious celebrations. The street also serves as a filming location for the famous TV series Inspector Montalbano, standing in as the police station of the fictional town of Vigata.

The Palazzo Rinzivillo–Portelli, overlooking Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II in Santa Croce Camerina, is a noble residence built between the 17th and 18th centuries, showcasing the elegance of Sicilian Baroque. The façade, articulated with shaped string courses, features a monumental carved stone portal crowned by a curved pediment, and wrought-iron balconies supported by local stone corbels. The lowered arch windows are adorned with decorative stuccoes, while the original interiors—featuring barrel vaults and 18th-century decorations—remain remarkable but are reserved for special occasions. Following conservative restorations, the palace retains its historical charm: although privately owned, it opens its halls for exhibitions and cultural events, offering a fascinating glimpse into the urban nobility of the Val di Noto.

The Fornace Penna, located in the hamlet of Sampieri in the municipality of Scicli, is a significant historical industrial site completed in 1912 in Contrada Pisciotto. Designed for the production of bricks and tiles, it was a cornerstone of the local ceramic industry and played a crucial role in the economic development of the Iblean area in the early 20th century. In 1926, the factory was severely damaged by an arson fire, the causes of which remain shrouded in mystery, and its production activities were compromised. Despite this, the complex has retained its grandeur thanks to its rationalist industrial architecture, featuring tall chimneys, masonry structures, and functional spaces that reflect its historical and technical value. Today, the Fornace Penna is promoted as a cultural and tourist site, hosting events, exhibitions, and initiatives that celebrate the industrial and traditional heritage of Sampieri and the surrounding area, acting as a bridge between past and present.

Palace Spadaro, located on Via Francesco Mormina Penna in Scicli, is a refined example of Sicilian Baroque architecture dating back to the 18th century. The façade features elegantly crafted wrought iron balconies, finely carved local stone portals, and rich stucco decorations that highlight the nobility and prestige of the family that once lived there. Inside, the palace preserves rooms of great artistic value, with coffered ceilings, frescoed halls, and original period furnishings that recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era. These elements tell the story of an aristocratic residence deeply rooted in Scicli’s cultural tradition. Today, Palazzo Spadaro is open to the public as a museum and hosts cultural events, exhibitions, and initiatives, serving as an important center for the promotion of local historical and artistic heritage.

Palace Beneventano is one of the finest expressions of Sicilian Baroque, located on Via Duca D’Aosta in Scicli, in the heart of the historic center. Built in the 18th century, the palace stands out for the extraordinary artistic quality of its façade, adorned with grotesque masks, sculpted corbels, allegorical figures, and curved wrought-iron balconies. This combination of elements creates a dramatic visual effect that blends symbolism, irony, and fantasy in a unique synthesis. Cited by scholars and art historians as one of the most significant examples of Iblean Baroque, the palace is not currently open to the public but continues to attract visitors, photographers, and enthusiasts for its exceptional beauty. It is considered one of the symbolic monuments of Scicli and a noteworthy piece of international architectural heritage.

Palace Cosentini, located on Corso Giuseppe Mazzini in Ragusa Ibla, is a fine example of Sicilian Baroque architecture dating from the third-fourth quarter of the 18th century. Built at the behest of Baron Raffaele Cosentini and his son Giuseppe, the palace is distinguished by its richly decorated façade, characterised by balconies with sculpted corbels depicting grotesque masks and symbolic animals. Prominent among these is the famous “balcony of slander”, known for its originality and evocative significance. On the cantonal of the palace stands a statue of St Francis of Paola, protector of travellers, which gives the place a spiritual as well as artistic value. Today Palazzo Cosentini hosts cultural events, exhibitions and initiatives that enhance its historical and artistic heritage, representing a landmark in the heart of Ragusa Ibla and a symbol of the cultural wealth of the Hyblean territory.

The Cave dei Santi is one of the most striking cave churches in Cava d’Ispica, chiselled into the limestone rock and consisting of a main nave (9.4×5.5 m ca.) and a smaller side room, possibly a sacristy. The interior walls house a cycle of Byzantine paintings with more than 30 figures of saints and bishops, depicted in half-length on a blue background, with gilded nimbuses: although the faces have been disfigured in search of coins, the images remain clearly legible. Remains of Greek inscriptions and identifications of figures such as St Lucia or St Helena confirm the cave’s role as a Byzantine sanctuary between the 4th and 6th centuries, with uses extending into the Norman era. Located halfway through the Archaeological Park, the Grotta dei Santi now offers an immersive experience between nature and history: a place of worship, a pictorial testimony and an ideal excursion destination for those who enjoy unconventional archaeology. The lack of signposts and the deterioration of the paintings add to its “hidden” charm, although they impose care and protection during the visit.

Palace Bertini, located along Corso Italia in Ragusa, is one of the most emblematic examples of 18th-century civil Baroque architecture in Sicily. Built for a local noble family, the building is distinguished by its elegant limestone façade, embellished with wrought-iron balconies supported by three famous sculpted corbels depicting grotesque masks known as “the three masks of human comedy”: the nobleman, the bourgeois and the commoner. These caricatured faces represent social satire and are considered among the most striking Baroque decorations in the city. Inside are frescoed ceilings, stucco work and decorations that reflect the refined taste of the Ragusa aristocracy of the time. Today, the palace is a cultural and artistic landmark in the historic centre, bearing witness to Ragusa’s historical, social and architectural richness. Visiting it, one fully grasps the theatrical and symbolic spirit of the Hyblean Baroque.

The Ragusa Post Office Palace, located in Piazza Matteotti, is one of the most significant examples of rationalist architecture in the city’s urban context. Built in the 1930s during the Fascist period, it was designed to meet the functional and representative needs of the new national administrative structure. Its façade is distinguished by its sober and geometric lines, devoid of superfluous decorations, in perfect Rationalist style, with compact volumes, rigorous symmetries and a balanced use of materials. The interiors, spacious and well-lit, still retain elegant marble cladding, original flooring and functional yet careful architectural details. The building represents a milestone in Ragusa’s urban modernisation and continues to house the headquarters of the Italian Post Office, remaining a landmark for 20th century public architecture and the historical memory of the contemporary city.

The Garibaldi Theatre in Modica, inaugurated in 1857, is one of the city’s most important and evocative historical theatres. Located in the heart of Modica Bassa, along the central Corso Umberto I, it has an elegant neoclassical façade embellished with refined Art Nouveau details that highlight its prestige and history. Inside, the structure is organised with a wide stall and numerous boxes arranged in a horseshoe shape, typical of 19th-century theatres, offering an optimal view of the stage from every point. The ceiling, finely frescoed and decorated, contributes to a refined and cosy atmosphere. The stage, fitted with modern equipment, hosts plays, concerts, operas and other cultural events, making the theatre the beating heart of Modica’s artistic life. Named after Italian national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi, the theatre represents a symbol of cultural and social identity for the local community.