History

The twelve municipalities that make up this district are all connected to the history of the County of Modica under the Chiaramonte and Cabrera families, which from the 14th century onwards was a State within a State, enjoying wide autonomy. In the mid 15th century, Count Cabrera assigned the lands on the plateau to his subjects in perpetual lease, so that they would open them up for agriculture, in exchange for payment of a reasonable rent in wheat (known as a censo). The Count thus obtained the 12,000 saumas of grain that he had the privilege of exporting duty-free. Hence the population explosion in the district, with the growth of towns such as Ragusa and Modica, the later colonization of the plain of Bosco Piano and the founding of Vittoria by the last heir to the Cabrera line, Vittoria Colonna.

In any case, from a historical viewpoint, archaeological findings testify that the district had been inhabited since prehistoric times. Alongside the prehistoric settlements are the remains of several ancient Greek colonies, as well as evidence dating back to the Hellenistic-Roman, Byzantine and medieval periods. However, one date that was to leave an indelible mark on the history of this district was the 11th of January 1693, when a massive earthquake destroyed all of the cities in the Val di Noto.

The ruling classes of the time then had to decide how to rebuild and whereas Ispica, Giarratana and part of Ragusa moved to a more advantageous position, making it easier to reach the surroundings, Modica was one of several towns rebuilt on their previous sites.

This at last provided an excellent opportunity to create that monumentality which the Baroque vision had been trying to instill throughout the 17th century, though it made little headway in the crowded city centres of the times. Today, the post-seismic Baroque acropolises have become the focal point of the cities, for both locals and visitors alike.