MODICA - RAGUSA AND SCICLI

The richness of the towns of Modica, Ragusa and Scicli, as stated, nowadays has become a World Heritage of Mankind.
Contained in the Val di Noto, the area of the old County of Modica, which includes the towns of Modica, Ragusa and Scicli, it is a cultural island characterized by a heterogeneity of landscape and an intense alternation of colours.
Steeped in history as much as in the Mediterranean sunshine, set among the southern slopes of the Hyblaean plateau, the towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli are embellished by the features of the late-Baroque culture that distinguishes south-eastern Sicily.
The scenographic settings composed of monumental structures of squares, flights of steps and facades are the pride of Hyblaean society.

In identifying the possible locations for the Festival, apart from the richness and the monuments of the towns of Modica, Ragusa and Scicli, easily found in any touristic guide, the working party responsible for the present study thought of identifying “ad hoc” locations for each town for the Festival of Literature.


As in the case of the famous Festival of Hay-on-Wye in Wales, or of our own Festival Mantua, the choice is that of presenting the events involving the whole town, therefore using both the conventional locations (squares, theatres, auditoriums) and those never before used for cultural events (e.g. private buildings, cafés, shops), it was decided to keep to the idea of triangle, of cultural island, as highlighted in more detail in the Festival programme, making the public gravitate by being involved in a different town every evening.
It is important that the Festival be alive in the artistic city itself, easily covered on foot, where during the days of the Festival the public and the authors can really meet and live together.
Therefore apart from the town squares and streets for meetings and shows, thought was given as to how to create an intimate framework, by means of the magnificent spaces available in the three towns.