Hmmm... We stayed in Modica Bassa. It seems most of the things we went to were up in Alta. (We had a car, so we often drove and that was not an issue). The restaurants we choose, the church we liked, all seemed up. I remember it as a trip of a lot of walking, climbing.

But my memory (not that it was decades ago, I just don't remember!) was that Modica felt a bit shabbier than Noto. A bit narrower and darker somehow. In that timeframe (maybe 10 years ago) I remember someone telling me that people were turning in their keys to houses because they couldn't afford them, and couldn't sell them. Perhaps the tide has turned.

Don't get me wrong, I love shabby--often prefer it. But Noto just felt finer.

Noto somehow seemed more open. Lighter. A bit more baroque (if there are degrees of baroqueness) I don't remember our climbing there as being as much as in Modica (but please, someone weigh in!). I am a very good walker/climber, so I don't always notice these things.

We don't recall steps walking around Noto. It was a little hilly esp going up the steps. There were steps to get into the churches. Noto was bright and very baroque

JulieEC and yestravel, as I think about it, you are describing the feeling I have when I look at the photos and that sense of the city "closing in". On one hand, I like the fact that Modica is what is described as a working town, integrating the touristic with the day to day -- but then I wonder what the subtext is. And I think you've both got a sense of why I feel a little unsettled,about Modica, especially since the lovelier places,are up in Modica Alta. Both your descriptions of Noto appeal.

shellio, if you don't mind sharing your hotel, I would love to know what place you chose!

"the perfect is the enemy of the good".

how true.

kja,
Yes, it is a problem of the entitled, no doubt, and only 2 nights. There are NO mistakes here! Just varying degrees of imperfection, I suppose!

Good luck with your decision making in Simgapore.... You know I'll be following your trip closely, as I'm hoping that Bali/Java are not too far in the future (but I digress....back to The Europe board!).

Annhig, yes, I try to keep that quote in mind, but it doesn't always help!

My enemy of good has always been bad. My travel life is a study in imperfection.

My gut tells me Noto is better for mobility (my only real concern). But yes, you will have a perfect trip, no matter what you decide. So today, pick one, and never look back.

Many thanks, JuleEC. I will do my best to make a choice and keep to it!

Of course I'll share our Noto hotel info Progol. Once I found it online there was no other choice, even though it's a bit pricier than I had hoped to find. As others upthread have noted it's not a life-changing decision, but I'm really looking forward to it.

http://www.7roomsvilladorata.it/mobile/EN/home.html

By the way Dayle, before I came across this one I had decided on Hotel Novecento in Scicli.

Modica (which may have been our favorite stop besides Palermo) is all hills. That's a big part of the fun, wandering up and down the tiny little stairways. We got lost and an old woman stopped sweeping and started chatting us up and led us to the church we were seeking. All in Italian, but we got the gist. If hills give you trouble you might choose another spot. The Piazza Duomo in Ortigia features the Sicilian Baroque too.

it's gorgeous, shellio, and though it's a bit ! over my budget, it's probably a good job I didn't find it while I was doing my research.

their place in the country looks equally lovely.

LOL annhig, it's over my budget too but I'll worry about it tomorrow, Scarlett O'Hara fashion. I argue that the one night in a B&B over a cafe in Piazza Armerina will help amortize the cost.

shellio, gorgeous place - like annhig said, a bit over my budget, too, but what a place!

DH has left it to me to decide, but has pointed out that Noto is geographically out of the way and suggested that we stay in Modica as it's so centrally located for a day trip and to travel to our next destination. So I've now finally begun to accept that we WILL stay in Modica -- and have opted for staying at Le Lumie, a place somewhat up the hill from Corso Umberto, but not at the very top:

http://www.lelumie.com/

I've seen that a few others have stayed here (and it doesn't break the bank, either) and it gets good recommendations. And I'll just deal with the stairs as best I can.

(Don't ask about all the reservations I've made through booking.com!)

Booking.com doesn't judge you! I know these things!!

It looks perfect. Now relax and enjoy...

Thanks, JulieEC! After too much obsessing yesterday, I think I've made a decision I can accept!

mi sembra che sia perfetto, Shellio. [sorry, in joke].

<<Don't ask about all the reservations I've made through booking.com!>>

progol, after we'd made our final itinerary decisions, I had to go through all my recent e-mails to make sure that I'd cancelled all the "free cancellation" bookings I'd made while I was trying to make my mind up. some of them had found their way to my junk box so that made it harder.

<<after we'd made our final itinerary decisions, I had to go through all my recent e-mails to make sure that I'd cancelled all the "free cancellation" bookings I'd made while I was trying to make my mind up.>>

Glad I'm not alone in this! It was so hard to cancel some of the places that look lovely, too! But I'm not looking back now......

But I'm not looking back now......>>

nor me progol.

I have ordered the Blue Guide to Sicily - thinking I'll need some expert help to understand what I'm looking at and it's relatively up to date.

Also a book by Daphne Phelps about how she rescued a house she was left near Mount Etna [Casa Cuseni] and her life there from just after WW2 to her death in 2005.

oh no - it turns out that you can stay there...

http://www.casacuseni.com/en/welcome/garden-and-views

note to self - stop it!

annhig, LOL. Just turned to the next chapter in my textbook and guess what's next?!

annhig and progol, congratulations on making your decisions. Now back away from the keyboard...slowly...

buona fortuna con il conjunctivo, Shellio.

<<oh no - it turns out that you can stay there...>>

annhig, be strong!


<<congratulations on making your decisions. Now back away from the keyboard...slowly...>>

shellio, I don't know if I have the strength....but one must.......