Commissioner Montalbano’s house
The first stop is definitely Punta Secca: the most famous seaside hamlet of Santa Croce Camerina. The small fishing village is called “‘a sicca” by the locals because of a characteristic cliff that runs at the water’s edge and develops in front of the beach. The fishing village overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is a popular destination for tourists.
Much of Punta Secca’s fame is due to the fiction that has found a home in the seaside village of Santa Croce Camerina. Scenes are set here at Enzo a Mare’s restaurant, Montalbano’s house overlooks the beach and Salvo swims in the sea in front of the house. Among the narrow streets of the village and on the seafront we recognise the Marinella seen on TV!
The TV series has shown the world this enchanting corner of Sicily where many travellers wish to spend a few days because the climate is mild all year round and there are large free beaches and equipped lidos. The many restaurants on the seafront create the right atmosphere for those who want to enjoy a few days by the sea or want to stroll and admire beautiful sunsets.
The Police Headquarters
Scicli, one of the Baroque towns in south-eastern Sicily and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is only 20 minutes away. This underrated tourist town has a scenic location and charm that at least matches its rivals, along with a pleasant sense of discovery for visitors exploring its streets. Scicli has some unique attractions, including a well-kept centre, beautiful clean stones and a theatrical view in a basin overlooked by churches and monasteries on high cliffs, but it is best known for its Town Hall, the set of the famous Vigata police headquarters, where Commissioner Montalbano solved controversies and cases.
Ragusa Ibla
Noteworthy for its Baroque beauty is Ragusa, one of the most picturesque towns in Sicily. The view from the upper town over Ragusa Ibla on its separate hill is truly breathtaking. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the main filming locations for the Sicilian crime film Scicli; this absolutely unique series has done wonders to publicise the beauty of this area.
Ragusa is divided into two parts: Ibla, the older nucleus on the hilltop, and Ragusa Superiore, the more modern upper town. Ibla is the magnet for tourists, although the upper town is still worth a visit.
Ibla’s grandest building is the cathedral, the Duomo di San Giorgio, begun in 1738 and designed by architect Rosario Gagliardi. Ibla’s alleyways contain many charms, from elaborately carved balconies to views of the narrow valleys below the city. One of Montalbano’s favourite restaurants in Ragusa is A’ Rusticana (Corso 25 Aprile, 68), a small place with friendly staff serving local and Sicilian food – all the classics, from local antipasti to fettuccine alla Norma to cassata for dessert. The charming interior features red and gold velvet wallpaper, a chandelier, crossed swords and autographs scrawled on the wall: the restaurant is a significant Montalbano location, replacing the detective’s ‘Trattoria San Calogero’, and the cast of the series have left their mark.
The House of Balduccio Sinagra
One of the most beautiful places in the Ragusa area is undoubtedly the Castello di Donnafugata, a pseudo-Venetian-Gothic country villa surrounded by greenery. In Montalbano, it looks like the home of retired Mafia boss Balduccio Sinagra. A historic residence that you can visit every day, around which all kinds of nightclubs have sprung up where you can eat excellent local food and good home-brewed beer.
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