Ragusa

Ragusa is a city in Sicily, Italy. It's the provincial capital, with some 73,000 inhabitants (as of 2014). Along with 7 other nearby cities, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Understand
Ragusa was part of the Grecian colony of Sicily, and later part of the Roman Byzantine empire. After several raids, in 868 AD it fell to the Muslims, who established the Emirate of Sicily. In 1090 it came under Norman rule. The area was fertile and the city grew up in the area now called Ragusa Ibla. "Hybla" means honey, and was also the name of an ancient deity.

The town was destroyed in the terrible Sicily earthquake of 1693. Most re-building was on higher ground, with Ragusa Superiore being laid out on a grid pattern on a hillside overlooking Ibla. It was constrained to the south by a deep ravine, but eventually this was bridged, and the south bank was also urbanised. Meanwhile, Ibla was largely neglected except as a source of masonry. This meant the medieval street pattern was preserved, while palaces and churches were rebuilt there piecemeal in baroque style. Gradually this area too was re-populated, and the two townships grew into each other, being formally merged in 1927.

So for the visitor, most sights of interest, and the more pleasing ambience in spite of the many tour groups, are found in Ibla. Although it's described as the "lower town", it's actually on a hilltop, with the upper town peering down from a higher hilltop. Exploring Ragusa involves lots and lots of slopes and steps. The church on the saddle of land joining the two hills is dedicated to "the blessed souls in Purgatory": if those souls had limited mobility, it would have sufficed to send them to Ragusa.

The Tourist Information Centre is close to that church, at Piazza della Repubblica, the foot of Via Aquila Sveva, which is the lane up to Ibla.

There's another TIC in the piazza below Ragusa Superiore cathedral (St John the Baptist). This is in a 1960s concrete eyesore that defaces the entire square. In early 2018 it was partly fenced off because of falling cladding, so it would be a kindly storm that finished it off.

By plane


Other airports, with wider connections across Europe, are Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (97 km) and Palermo International Airport (274 km).

By boat
The nearest seaport is Pozzallo, 34 km south, with daily fast ferries to Malta.

By train
Ragusa is on a branch line but six trains a day (M-Sa) go north to Gela (60-80 min, stops include Donnafugata) and south to Syracuse (two hours, stops include Modica, Scicli, Pozzallo, Ispica and Noto). From Gela there are connections to Palermo, and from Syracuse to Catania and Messina. No trains on Sunday. Trains are now modern with comfortable seats and toilets.



By bus
There are buses from Syracuse, Catania, Modica, Vittoria, Marina di Ragusa, Noto, Palermo (4 hr, €12), and Rome (SAIS Trasporti). A list of bus companies operating from Ragusa can be found on the municipal website.

Local buses (e.g. to Modica and Syracuse, and the shuttle to Ibla) run from the small bus stand just below the railway station. Buy tickets on board or from tabachi.

Long-distance buses run from

By car
From Catania take SS114 and turn for Lentini SS194. From there follow sign to Ragusa on the SS514.

From Siracusa take the motorway A18 and then the SS115.

From Agrigento/Gela follow the SS115

On foot
If you go there on foot do not follow the directions for cars but take the step streets down from Via Roma.

By taxi
There is a taxi station/office at the beginning of Ragusa Ibla in Piazza della Repubblica and there are taxis at the train station in the new Ragusa.

Ragusa Ibla
The old city is a spectacular mix of narrow streets, steep winding steps, old churches, and fantastic views.

Do

 * There is a project to convert the old railway-line running north past Chiaramonte Gulfi and to Vizzini (the track is already gone) into a bicycle-track.
 * There is a project to convert the old railway-line running north past Chiaramonte Gulfi and to Vizzini (the track is already gone) into a bicycle-track.
 * There is a project to convert the old railway-line running north past Chiaramonte Gulfi and to Vizzini (the track is already gone) into a bicycle-track.

Events


Religious events



Buy
High-streets


 * The main are Via Roma and Corso Italia.
 * For souvenirs and typical Sicilian products the Via XXV Aprile in Ragusa Ibla has many shops with all the gadgets you want to buy in Sicily and take back home.

Shopping centres. There are two in Ragusa:



Markets

There is a market M-Sa, but it moves between quarters of Ragusa. The main market is on Wednesdays next to the football stadium 'A. Campo' in Selvaggio quarter.

Drink
Most pubs are in Ragusa Ibla (old town) or in Marina di Ragusa (sea-town).


 * Puglesi, Via Dante 94, +39 0932 686046. Bar at the bus stop, open late.

Sleep
In Ragusa there are several hotels and many B&Bs. Out of town there is a good selection of agriturismi.



Go next

 * The other baroque towns and UNESCO World Heritage sites are Modica 15 km, Scicli 25 km, Noto 55 km, Caltagirone 59 km, Piazza Armerina 88 km, and Pantalica 54 km. Modica is the most substantial.
 * Syracuse is a must-see.
 * The other baroque towns and UNESCO World Heritage sites are Modica 15 km, Scicli 25 km, Noto 55 km, Caltagirone 59 km, Piazza Armerina 88 km, and Pantalica 54 km. Modica is the most substantial.
 * Syracuse is a must-see.
 * Syracuse is a must-see.