According to geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi, "shipping reached Scicli in Sicily from Calabria, Africa, Malta and many other places.

A number of counts from the House of Alba nominally held possession until the county the Kingdom of Italy in the mid 19th century.

The town is also notable for its religious processions which includes "Presepe" (nativity scenes) enacted in the caves surrounding the city at Christmas time.

The most spectacular religious festival, the A Maronna i Milici occurs in May, commemorating the appearance of the Madonna on a white horse holding aloft a sword, described as "probably...the only armed Holy Virgin in the world.

[9] The economy of Scicli is mostly agricultural, and the area is renowned for its many greenhouses producing the primizie ("early fruits") that are exported all over Italy.

The town plays host to an annual road running race, Memorial Peppe Greco, which traces its route through the city centre.