Ragusa
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 17 September 2023
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The city of Ragusa is the capital city of the Province of Ragusa with a population of 73,373 inhabitants.
Standing at an elevation of 520 metres above sea level, it covers a total area of 443 km² and lies 253 kilometres south east of Palermo, the regional capital of Sicily. One of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily) inscribed since 2002 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is very much to coin a phrase, "a tale of two cities". |
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The Two Ragusas: Ibla and Superiore
The UNESCO inscription was awarded to eight towns in south-eastern Sicily that not only managed to rebuild themselves after the devastation caused by the 1693 earthquake, but also created well-laid out towns with beautiful Baroque architecture. Another common feature with all of these towns is that the rebuild occurred next to existing towns and this is highlighted with Ragusa's two very different sides: Ragusa (or Ragusa Superiore), and Ibla.
Ragusa Superiore is the newest part of the city, where the Baroque rebuild was concentrated after the earthquake destroyed the older, lower area of Ibla. The difference between the two towns is notable; the careful urban planning of Ragusa Superiore in stark contrast to Ragusa Ibla which was rebuilt to its original, medieval specifications. The result is that Ibla carries the more charm of the two sides of the city and as such, attracts the main focus of visitors' attention.
The UNESCO inscription was awarded to eight towns in south-eastern Sicily that not only managed to rebuild themselves after the devastation caused by the 1693 earthquake, but also created well-laid out towns with beautiful Baroque architecture. Another common feature with all of these towns is that the rebuild occurred next to existing towns and this is highlighted with Ragusa's two very different sides: Ragusa (or Ragusa Superiore), and Ibla.
Ragusa Superiore is the newest part of the city, where the Baroque rebuild was concentrated after the earthquake destroyed the older, lower area of Ibla. The difference between the two towns is notable; the careful urban planning of Ragusa Superiore in stark contrast to Ragusa Ibla which was rebuilt to its original, medieval specifications. The result is that Ibla carries the more charm of the two sides of the city and as such, attracts the main focus of visitors' attention.
Ragusa Ibla
The highlight is the area around the central square, Piazza Duomo. The unmissable sight here is the towering Chiesa di San Giorgio with its Baroque facade while the whole piazza buzzes in the mornings and evenings, populated by shoppers, diners and those taking a pleasant passeggiata. In the hot summers, things quiet down somewhat in the afternoons as locals look to shade themselves from the hot Sicilian sun.
One of the best places to find that shade is the Giardino Ibleo. Situated a 5 minute walk from Piazza Duomo, following the gently sloping Corso XXV Aprile, Giardino Ibleo is a carefully manicured garden with palm-tree lined paths where you can enjoy the gently tinkling sounds of fountains; a beautiful slice of Sicilian peace.
The highlight is the area around the central square, Piazza Duomo. The unmissable sight here is the towering Chiesa di San Giorgio with its Baroque facade while the whole piazza buzzes in the mornings and evenings, populated by shoppers, diners and those taking a pleasant passeggiata. In the hot summers, things quiet down somewhat in the afternoons as locals look to shade themselves from the hot Sicilian sun.
One of the best places to find that shade is the Giardino Ibleo. Situated a 5 minute walk from Piazza Duomo, following the gently sloping Corso XXV Aprile, Giardino Ibleo is a carefully manicured garden with palm-tree lined paths where you can enjoy the gently tinkling sounds of fountains; a beautiful slice of Sicilian peace.
Ragusa Superiore
Back on the upper side of town in Ragusa Superiore, the main sight is the Cathedral, built in 1774. A walk from the Cathedral, east along Corso Italia before darting left on Via XIV Maggio, eventually brings you to the Chiesa Santa Maria delle Scale. Apart from the charms of the church itself, this is one of the best places to take a photo as you get great views down to Ragusa Ibla.
Back on the upper side of town in Ragusa Superiore, the main sight is the Cathedral, built in 1774. A walk from the Cathedral, east along Corso Italia before darting left on Via XIV Maggio, eventually brings you to the Chiesa Santa Maria delle Scale. Apart from the charms of the church itself, this is one of the best places to take a photo as you get great views down to Ragusa Ibla.
Inspector Montalbano and Ragusa
Some of Ragusa's landscape will be familiar to fans of the Inspector Montalbano TV series. In fact, this whole area of Sicily draws visitors to follow in their favourite inspector's footsteps with other notable locations including nearby Sicili, Donnafugata Castle, Punta Secca and Modica.
Some of Ragusa's landscape will be familiar to fans of the Inspector Montalbano TV series. In fact, this whole area of Sicily draws visitors to follow in their favourite inspector's footsteps with other notable locations including nearby Sicili, Donnafugata Castle, Punta Secca and Modica.
Comune di Ragusa
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Province: Ragusa
Region: Sicily Population: 72,779 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 443 km² Elevation: 520 metres Top sights: Ragusa Ibla, Chiesa di San Giorgio, Giardino Ibleo Close by: Modica, Comiso, Vittoria, Marina di Modica, Pozzallo Recommended stay: San Giorgio Palace Hotel Ragusa Ibla |
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
Year: 2002
Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
Year: 2002
Ragusa Travel
Ragusa's train station is situated in the upper half of the city, a ten minute walk (800 metres) from the Cathedral. Trains run south from Ragusa to Modica (21 minutes), before continuing all the way to Syracuse (2 hours 10 minutes).
Stops along the train line include Scicli (33 minutes), the beach resort of Sampieri (43 mins), the port town of Pozzallo (54 minutes) and the spectacular Noto (1 hour 28 minutes), best of all Sicily's Baroque towns.
The most convenient airport for Ragusa is Catania Airport which is a 1 hour 24 minute drive away (100 km); neither Palermo Airport (3 hours 37 minutes/283 km) or Trapani Airport (4 hours 21 minutes/282 km) offer viable alternatives due to their long driving distances.
Stops along the train line include Scicli (33 minutes), the beach resort of Sampieri (43 mins), the port town of Pozzallo (54 minutes) and the spectacular Noto (1 hour 28 minutes), best of all Sicily's Baroque towns.
The most convenient airport for Ragusa is Catania Airport which is a 1 hour 24 minute drive away (100 km); neither Palermo Airport (3 hours 37 minutes/283 km) or Trapani Airport (4 hours 21 minutes/282 km) offer viable alternatives due to their long driving distances.
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Public transport: Central train station, local buses
By train: Modica - 21 minutes, Scicli - 33 minutes |
By car: Syracuse - 1 hour 28' (87 km), Catania - 1 hour 32' (104 km)
Fly to: Catania Airport - 1 hour 24 minutes by car (100 km) |
