Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore

There are many villages to see in Sicily and Modica is certainly one of these: what is striking about the town that gave birth to the famous writer Salvatore Quasimodo is its almost decadent appearance, but full of charm and luoghi so beautiful to have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Modica, in addition to being the "City of Chocolate", is also the "City of 100 churches", some of which are very ancient such as the Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore.

Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore: historical notes

La Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore is by far the most important rock settlement of Modica, dating back to the XNUMXth-XNUMXth century: it was created inside a cave excavated in the white limestone, in a place that was near the bed of a small river, far from the walls of ancient Modica.
Worship inside this rock church initially followed the Eastern rite, being at the time in what was a Greek-speaking area of ​​the city. The same rite was abandoned when Sicily too was involved in the Latinization process, so much so that in 1577 it was annexed to the nearby Church of St. Peter.
It was a certain Duccio Belgiorno who discovered it in 1987 and today the Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore belongs to the "Study Center of the County of Modica", thanks to which the place of worship has been recovered and restored.

Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore: style and architecture

La Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore it is a room of about 45 square meters and has an apse (where the altar was probably located) surmounted by a beautiful hemispherical cap. The apse is beautifully decorated with frescoes Byzantine style, among which the inevitable stands out Christ Pantocrator, surrounded by angels, the Mater Domini and the saints Eligius, Michael and Peter: the figure of Christ is enclosed in a mandorla, embellished with a continuous red thread. Those who have visited the Cathedral of Cefalù will find a clear similarity and the same splendor, even if that of the rock church of Modica is smaller.

From the latest excavations, still to be completed, four tombs have been discovered under the floor, plus an underground room of still uncertain destination.
Looking closely at the church, you can see the remains of a baptismal font where children were baptized according to the Eastern rite, i.e. by immersion.

What to see around the Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore

La Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore is located right in the heart of historic center of Modica, a real jewel to be discovered among stairways, shops, elegant palaces and splendid churches such as the Cathedral of St. George: is UNESCO heritage and enchants with its long scenographic staircase, the facade that is close to 62 m. high and the hanging gardens called "Lead Garden".
Equally gorgeous is the Church of St. Peter dating back to 1350, also a UNESCO site: also in this case there is a staircase leading to the entrance, surrounded by the statues of the 12 Apostles.
Then it is worth a visit Church of Santa Maria del Gesù, which houses a magnificent late-Gothic cloister, embellished with typically Arab-Norman decorations.
Among the things to do in Modica is to first visit the prisons of Castle of the Counts and then the Civic Archaeological Museum: this museum space preserves a small statue of Hercules of Cafeo dating from the XNUMXrd century BC.
Finally, one cannot leave Modica without having visited the Chocolate Museum, where there is also a chocolate diorama depicting Italy in miniature, and by reaching the village between 29 March and 2 April it is possible to participate in the ChocoModica, Chocolate Festival typical of the town.

How to get to Modica

By car:, to get to Modica and visit the Rock Church of San Nicolò Inferiore, starting from Syracuse, you have to take the SS115 and, once you have passed Noto, turn off at Ispica and then continue towards Modica.
Those leaving from Catania must first reach Syracuse through the E45 and then continue on the SS115.
From Palermo the roads to travel only the A19 and then the E932, which lead to Enna, then to Ragusa and finally to Modica.