Modica, Sicily, Italy Mar 2, 2024

When Italy comes to mind, iconic cities like Milan, Rome and Venice often steal the spotlight. However, on the island of Sicily lies a less famous gem—Modica. It"s a city that has risen from the rubble of an earthquake in 1693 to become an architectural wonderland of Baroque-style buildings. With fewer than 60,000 inhabitants, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts cobbled lanes, echoing with powerful footprints—from prehistoric tribes to the ancient Greeks and Romans to the mediaeval Arabs and Normans. Landmarks like the San Giorgio Cathedral and San Pietro Church awe visitors with their grandeur, and Modica"s recognised chocolate, crafted with Aztec-inspired techniques, tempts the palates of food enthusiasts. So, the next time Italy beckons, how about taking the road less travelled to Modica?

© Sandro Bisaro/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nature’s own canvas
Mar 2, 2025Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia
Mar 2, 2026Harbour and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 4, 2025Grizzly bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, United States
May 17, 2024Endangered Species Day
Oct 12, 2024Mysore Dasara
One rare streak
Jul 21, 2024Kendwa village, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Oct 22, 2025Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria
Apr 8, 2026Seattle, Washington, United States
City of ice
Feb 8, 2026Corfu at night, Greece
A pink moon over Arizona
Apr 14, 2025Ambedkar Jayanti
Feb 14, 2024Vasant Panchmi
Magnified moss
Jul 27, 2026Tiffany Dome, Chicago Cultural Center, Illinois, United States
Sep 3, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Nov 19, 2023Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
Feb 18, 2025The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Mar 9, 2026Grey seal sleeping on the beach, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Mar 23, 2024World Meteorological Day
Dec 14, 2024Northern hawk-owl, Canada
Is anybody home?
Sep 2, 2025Camel thorn trees, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia
Mar 14, 2026Celebrating Pi Day
May 10, 2024Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
This magical beach is worth the hike
Feb 3, 2026Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Oct 31, 2024Happy Diwali!
Take a hike!
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Oct 28, 2025The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia