On January 11, 1693, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake devastated southeastern Sicily and destroyed Scicli almost entirely. What rose from the rubble was even more extraordinary — an entire town rebuilt in exuberant late Baroque style, so magnificent it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 alongside Ragusa, Noto, Modica and four other towns. Perched dramatically between three rocky hillsides, each topped with the ruins of abandoned convents and churches, Scicli feels like a film set — and it literally is one. It served as the backdrop for the beloved Italian TV series Inspector Montalbano, with the real town hall doubling as the fictional police station. Stroll Piazza Italia, peer up at the elaborate Baroque balconies (whose rounded ends were designed to accommodate 18th-century ladies' voluminous skirts!), and raise a glass to being alive at forty in one of Europe's most beautiful places.