Leveled by the catastrophic 1693 earthquake, the settlement historically known as Spaccaforno was entirely rebuilt on its current hilltop location. Renamed Ispica in 1935, this town of 15,122 residents now stands as a testament to Sicilian Baroque design. Architectural highlights include Vincenzo Sinatra’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the Annunziata Church.
Beyond its striking monuments, the area holds a surprising agricultural record: yielding 18,000 tons of organic carrots annually, it is southern Italy’s largest producer. The municipal boundaries stretch south to the Mediterranean, providing ten kilometers of sandy dunes. Just two kilometers offshore, the tiny Porri island dots the seascape.
Near Ispica
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
