Historic Center – The city is divided into two distinct urban areas, Ragusa Ibla or Inferiore and Ragusa Superiore, separated by a valley called Valle dei Ponti. The first has maintained over the centuries an original medieval structure full of stairways, narrow streets and baroque monuments. The second was built after the devastating earthquake of 1693 and retains a planar layout with an 18th-century layout. The protagonists of the post-earthquake reconstruction were Vaccarini, Palma, Giovanni Vermexio, Sebastiano Ittar, Vincenzo Sinatra and above all the famous Rosario Gagliardi. These, with the help of a bevy of local sculptors and master builders, helped to create a unique and particular phenomenon: the Baroque of the Val di Noto. Characterized by the use of local stone, rich in swirls, empty and full, columns and capitals, statues and architectural compositions, of which probably the Cathedral of San Giorgio is the highest expression. Most of the artistic heritage, with the sole exception of the cathedral of San Giovanni Battista and some eighteenth-century buildings, is located in the old quarter of Ibla. In 2002 the historic center of Ragusa for its Baroque architecture was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with seven other towns in the Val di Noto.

Religious Architecture

The church of San Giorgio, the patron saint of Ragusa Ibla, was built between 1739 and 1775 on a project by the architect Rosario Gagliardi, on the foundations of the ancient church of San Nicola. The originality of the structure lies in the imposing tower façade that includes the bell tower and in its location above a high staircase that accentuates its spectacular effect. The neoclassical dome was completed in 1820; with a double cap, resting on two rows of columns, it was designed by the Ragusan master builder Carmelo Cultraro, inspired by the dome of the Pantheon in Paris. The interior has a Latin cross structure divided into three naves. The side chapels preserve a rich patrimony of sacred paintings, while the central nave is surmounted by an imposing nineteenth-century organ; the sacristy houses a large sixteenth-century sculpture by Antonino Gagini, built for the ancient church of San Giorgio, severely damaged by the earthquake of 1693.

The ancient church of San Giorgio built in the twelfth century, had the utmost attention from Count Goffredo who modified, expanded and enriched the primitive church in both architectural aspects and furnishings and assets. The church judging from the portal, had to be of great magnificence, in line with the aesthetics that the ogival style required, it was therefore a large temple with three naves separated by seven columns on each side, enriched by twelve altars over three of the apse to the Baptismal Font. Characteristic of the building was above all the bell tower, built by the architect Ragusan Di Marco, a wonderful example of architecture with its 100 meters of height was among the highest in Europe. Of the terrible earthquake of 1693 only the portal remains, a magnificent example of Gothic-Catalan architecture built with soft limestone blocks, with a soft pink color. The lunette above the lintel represents the holy knight who pierces the dragon, with the kneeling queen of Berito attending the scene. The arch is contained between two fluted pilasters and the upper space is enriched by two large lozenges, inside which houses the Ragusa eagle. The interstices between the columns of the arch are adorned with figures representing the arts and crafts and, along the entire surface, by a theory of monstrous and imaginary figures, among flowers and leaves, the legacy of medieval bestiaries. In the splaying it has elegant beamed columns, which join together forming a harmonious arch; the last column of the nine bundles does not follow the arch but narrows, rises on the other eight to form a large flower.

Church of Santa Maria delle Scale: one of the few buildings that resisted the earthquake of 1693, was built around the middle of the fourteenth century and retains many Gothic elements, although in the last years of the eighteenth century the church was subjected to a series of works of restoration that deeply modified the structure.

The church of San Giovanni Battista, patron of Ragusa Superiore, rose before the earthquake in the west part of the city, under the castle walls. The master builders Giuseppe Recupero and Giovanni Arcidiacono planned the rebuilding in 1694, in Baroque style. In 1718, in order to meet the needs of the faithful, the expansion works were started; on the baroque façade, finely decorated, there are numerous sculptures, while imposing columns divide the façade into five distinct parts. On the sides of the portal, there are the statues of San Giovanni Battista and San Giovanni Evangelista and on the left there is a bell tower about fifty meters high. Inside, has a Latin cross plan, there are carved capitals, niches rich in statues and precious stuccos. In 1858 the great Serassi organ was built with a large carved and gilded wooden choir. In 1950 it officially became a cathedral of the diocese of Ragusa. The

Church of Purgatory, built around the middle of the seventeenth century, is one of the few sacred buildings that have survived the earthquake. Between 1740 and 1787 the temple was largely renovated and enlarged; inside, divided into three naves, there is the painting of Saints and Souls Purgantes, work of the eighteenth-century artist Francesco Manno.

The Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli was built in the seventeenth century outside the town, following the discovery of an ancient sacred image; the plant has a particular octagon shape. When in 1951 the building was closed to worship, the statues inside it were transferred to the church of San Giorgio.

Church of Santa Maria dell’Itria: it is the commendale church of the Sovereign Military order of Malta under the title of San Giuliano, founded by Baron Blandano Arezzi in 1626, near the hospital of the same name. The name derives from the Greek Odygitria (that is to say the one indicating the path). The church was not particularly affected by the earthquake, but was also enlarged and modified in Baroque style, becoming one of the most important places of worship in the neighborhood.

Church of San Filippo Neri: built around the seventeenth century thanks to the brotherhood devoted to the saint, the very simple façade overlooks a small churchyard and is embellished by the entrance door. The interior, in the hall, with a chapel on the right side, was remodeled at the end of the nineteenth century.

Church of San Giuseppe: built in 1756 on the initiative of the Benedictine nuns, designed by Gagliardi, the three-sided façade is rich in carvings and sculptures. The interior is characterized by an oval plan, the roof consists of a large dome.

Convent and church of Santa Maria del Gesù: built around 1636 at the behest of minor reformed friars, the façade has a characteristic gabled shape and has as its sole ornament the portal punctuated by two semi-columns supporting a broken tympanum. There is a small bell tower located on the left side of the church. The interior is richly adorned with stuccos and frescoes.

Convent and church of San Francesco all’Immacolata: the church probably rose in the thirteenth century, the Franciscan friars wanted to allocate it at the end of the town to be able to carry out the reception and care of the sick. The bell tower is among the oldest in Sicily, dating from the Swabian period.

Church of San Vincenzo Ferreri: it was built in the early sixteenth century, it was not particularly damaged by the earthquake, but probably underwent some changes. It has a very simple linear elevation that has two columns with Corinthian capitals and a tympanum, broken by a large window. The bell tower is embellished with polychrome stone beams. The interior is frescoed with wall paintings that represent medieval Ragusa, outside there is an ancient sundial dating back to the early sixteenth century. The church was the subject of an important restoration completed in 2010; the building is currently used as a public auditorium.

Civil Architecture

Palazzo Zacco: the palace, one of the most beautiful in upper Ragusa, was built by Baron Melfi. It has two elevations, in each of which there are three balconies in the main floor. The entrance door is flanked by two columns on high pitches in pitch stone, with Corinthian capitals on which the central balcony rests with a wrought iron railing. The jambs of the balconies are supported by corbels with two registers: in the lower one grotesque masks, in the upper one fantastic figures that follow those of other nobiliary palaces, coeval or built in previous decades. In the corner head between the two streets, the huge heraldic shield of the Melfi of S. Antonio. With this building Ragusa enters the rococo style more unrestrained that only reflected in a few other buildings. The building will become the seat of the museum of Ragusan traditions.

Palazzo Schininà di Sant’Elia: it was built in the late eighteenth century by the baron Mario Leggio Schininà marquis of Sant’Elia and first mayor of Ragusa Superiore. It extends for an entire block, since 1950 the northern part has been donated to the diocese and then the seat of the bishopric and some administrative offices were transferred there. Of the very long prospectus, only the ground floor on which the two doors open is complete. The north wing facade has seven balconies on the first floor: in the middle is the central door, bordered by two pilasters on high plinths, enriched with garlands, with rococo capitals. From the main door one can access an internal courtyard from which the sumptuous staircase leads to the porticoes of the main floor. The six balconies are supported by large corbels with very fine leaves; the ornaments of the jambs repeat the motif of the central balcony and culminate with a classic baroque shell. It is the largest construction of the late eighteenth century of Ragusa.

Palazzo Sortino-Trono: it was built in 1778 on part of the walls of the ancient castle. The imposing façade overlooks the piazza degli archi and overlooks the balcony. There is a large entrance portal, slightly convex, which holds a balcony with a linear frame made of limestone with pitch stone inlays. The three side balconies have large pitch-stone corbels carved with plant motifs and, in the openings, limestone cornices, with a characteristic rococo style frieze frieze. On the sides of the entrance door are two small oval openings and in the three parties, large windows with a mixtilinear frame surmounted by a shell frieze.

Palazzo Bertini: it was built at the end of the eighteenth century; features the sculptures present, three large heads, called masks that depict three characters of the Baroque culture: the beggar, the nobleman and the merchant. The first is covered with rags and shows a deformed face with a big nose and a mouth without teeth, the noble, with a proud look, has an elegant plumed hat from which protrudes the curly hair, while the merchant has a chubby face with a great turban and an earring with a large pearl, a sign of wealth and opulence.

Palazzo Battaglia: thanks to its majesty and the richness of its decorations, it is one of the most original buildings of Ragusa Ibla. The works for its construction were completed around the mid-eighteenth century; the façade, which opens up in front of the church of the Santissima Annunziata, has a large mannerist style portal, flanked by two large windows. Above the central balcony you can see the emblem of the Battaglia and Giampiccolo families.

Palazzo della Cancelleria: it was built in the first half of the eighteenth century by the will of the Nicastro family; around the middle of the next century the building was bought by the Municipality that established the Chancellery. The baroque façade stands on the little square where the stairway meets, which has united for centuries the two districts in which the city is divided. Two high pilasters enclose the space in which the great grandstand stands out, the most valuable element of the construction.

Palazzo Cosentini: it was built in the eighteenth century by the initiative of the baron Raffaele Cosentini. The three balconies present, are characterized by the wealth of decorations of the shelves with masks grotesque and deformed faces surmounted by figures of musicians, in the central one, figures alluding to the abundance and in the right one, people of the people. The façade is lateral, outlined by two high pilasters.

Palazzo La Rocca: it was built around 1765 by the baron La Rocca di S. Ippolito. The façade, sober and elegant, is characterized by seven balconies each supported by three pitch-stone shelves. There are some anthropomorphic figures among which the flautist, the lute player, the commoner with the child and the two figures united in a hug, repeated by the puttini in the lateral shelves, are particularly interesting.

Circle of conversation: the aristocracy of Ragusa decided to build its own circle of conversation, a rare example of a building built specifically for this purpose. It is also called Caffè dei Cavalieri. Built in 1850 in neoclassical style it is one of the few recreational facilities that has been preserved intact. The one-storey façade is elegant and sober, about 10 meters long, in neoclassical style. It has three doors divided by six fluted pilasters with capitals of Doric style, the cornice adorned with triglyphs, in correspondence of the doors has three bas-reliefs with two winged women holding a lamp and two sphinxes on the sides. On the cornice, the coat of arms of the city flanked by two anthropomorphic lions surrounded by a garland of flowers. The sumptuous banquet hall shows a ceiling frescoed by the Ragusan Tino Del Campo at the end of the 19th century with an allegory of arts and sciences and four medallions at the corners. Being a private room is not open to the public, but the availability of members often allows the visit.

Porta Walter or Porta Vattiri is the only one of the five entrance gates to the ancient city that has lasted for centuries and is one of the few remains of the city walls. It was built in 1643 on the occasion of the visit of the Viceroy of Sicily Giovanni Alfonso Enriquez de Cabrera. The door, 5 meters high and 3 meters wide, above the lowered arch has a Latin inscription on two rows of carved limestone blocks. Unfortunately, the six lines of Latin characters are now almost illegible. From Porta Walter it goes down a small road that leads to the Santa Domenica valley and the road to Modica.

Byzantine Walls: next to the Church of the Most Holy Lord Found, located on the eastern outskirts of Ragusa Ibla, and behind the church of the Santissimi Souls of Purgatory in the neighborhood of the Arches, there are the remains of Byzantine walls of the eighth century that were part of the walls defensive wall of the castle of Ragusa built by the Byzantines and then enlarged by the Normans.

Ponte Vecchio: in 1843, with the construction of the Ponte Vecchio, the city developed southwards, in fact the bridge allowed the overcoming of the natural obstacle represented by the S. Domenica valley. In Roman architectural style also called the Capuchins, it was wanted by the Capuchin Father Gianbattista Occhipinti Scopetta (1770-1836).

Ponte Nuovo: in 1937 the second bridge was inaugurated, called Ponte del Littorio, commonly called by the citizens of Ponte Nuovo or Ponte di Via Roma. It was built during the twenty years of fascism, together with the adjacent Piazza Libertà, once Piazza Impero, thanks to the influence of Filippo Pennavaria. At the highest point measuring forty meters, it is about one hundred thirty two meters long and about ten meters wide, over the two meters wide sidewalks each. It has four reinforced concrete pillars covered with hard limestone (live stone) and four arches.

Ponte Papa Giovanni XXIII: in 1964, due to the intense development of the city, a third bridge was built, the Ponte Papa Giovanni XXIII (also called Ponte San Vito to distinguish it from the bridge of ’37) with a single span, joins the district of Carmine with the Cappuccini district.

Torre Cabrera di Marina: the Torre Cabrera of Marina di Ragusa is also located in the municipal territory. It is a coastal defense tower, built in the 16th century to protect the old port of the Ragusa district.

Giardino Ibleo: it was built in 1858, it stands on the east end of Ibla at about 385 m., Inside is the imposing war memorial of the great war and the church of San Vincenzo Ferreri, the church of San Giacomo and the Capuchin church. Near the garden, the archaeological excavations of Ragusa Ibla have brought to light many findings of ancient Hybla.

There are other buildings and historical monuments of cultural importance:

church of San Rocco; church of Sant’Agnese; church of San Sebastiano; of St. Thomas; the church of the Ecce Homo; the church of the Capuchins; the church of San Vito; of San Paolo; of San Leonardo; the church of San Francesco di Paola; the church of San Domenico; the church of San Giacomo. Again: the Castle of Donnafugata; Palazzo Lupis.

Archaeological sites

The iblea area has returned several archaeological findings. In a cave located in Fontana Nuova, near Marina di Ragusa, some scrapers and splintered stone cutting blades were found, dating back to 30,000 years ago. It is the oldest find discovered so far in Sicily. Most of the finds are kept in the Hyblaean Archaeological Museum.

Kamarina. The ancient city stood on three hills, as evidenced by the parts of archaic walls and a large tower. The remains of Hellenistic houses have been identified: Altar House, Inscription House and Casa del Mercante.

Monte Arcibessi. In the territory of Monte Arcibessi there are fortified settlements, the castellieri, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Also present prehistoric settlements, remains of ancient Greek settlements, evidence of the Hellenistic-Roman era and Byzantine and medieval remains.

Cave of the Trabacche. Archaeological site of monumental architecture of the Roman and Byzantine era.

Castiglione. Sicilian-Greek settlement with remains of two large districts of the 6th century BC, fortifications, urban road, a sacred area and a Greek necropolis. Among the most important finds of the entire area of ​​the Iblea, there is the Castiglione Warrior a bas-relief from a single slab of local limestone, depicting an armed horseman with a left-handed steed, the extremities of the block are decorated with the protomi a bull and a sphinx.

Demographic evolution – Starting from the catastrophic event represented by the earthquake of 1693, due to which lost five thousand lives in a total population of thirteen thousand inhabitants, the city recorded a continuous growth up to 18,883 in 1861. In forty years, the population almost doubled and continued with a positive trend until the first post-war period. Between 1921 and 1951 it witnessed a considerable demographic decline, and then reversed the trend during the post-World War II period, in line with the economic boom. In 2013, the annual increase of the population is + 4.1%, due to a positive balance of the migratory movement that offsets the negative natural balance (-129 units).

Ethnic groups and minorities – There are 22.660 foreign residents present in the Iblei, a number that makes Ragusa the first Sicilian province for the incidence of migratory phenomenon on the total population (7.01% of the resident population), a figure more than double compared to the regional average (3.2% of the resident population) but lower than the national figure of 8.1%. According to the ISTAT data as of December 31, 2013, the foreign population residing in Ragusa was 3,892 people. The most represented nationalities: Tunisia, Albania, Romania, Poland, Morocco.

Museums – Museo Archeologico Ibleo: was established in 1961 and preserves the archaeological finds of the excavations from the countryside of Ragusa covering a period ranging from prehistory to the Greeks of Camarina, up to the late Romanesque. Museum of the Ragusan traditions at the Zacco Palace and also the Regional Archaeological Museum of Camarina; Peasant Time Museum, Carmelo Cappello collection; Civic Museum Italy in Africa; Cathedral Museum; Cathedral Museum; Obsculta – Benedictine Museum; Natural Museum and the Asphalt Mines of Tabuna and Castelluccio.

Libraries – Biblioteca Comunale with location in via Zama (Ragusa), via Benedetto Brin (Marina di Ragusa), Donnafugata Castle Library, Municipal Historical Archives in via Zama.

Among the typical ragusani dishes we remember some varieties of homemade pasta, in particular cavati and ravioli alla ragusana, the squared pasta cooked in chicken broth. For Christmas Eve dinner, scacce, homemade bread, tomasini stuffed with ricotta and local sausage are prepared. At Easter they prepare turciniuna, breaded lamb and cassata. The latter is an oven-baked cake consisting of a pastry basket filled with sweetened ricotta and flavored with grated lemon peel. After cooking, the cassate is sprinkled with cinnamon and in the most modern variants, often ricotta is added to the dark chocolate pieces. On the tables of Ragusa there are typical local products such as cheeses, mostly caciocavallo and provola ragusana.

Bernardo Cabrera, (Barcelona, ​​10 August 1350 – Catania, September 1423), noble Spanish condottiero, buried in Ragusa

Giovanni Battista Odierna (Ragusa, 13 April 1597 – Palma di Montechiaro, 6 August 1660) was an Italian presbyter, architect and astronomer.

Teodoro Belleo (Ragusa, 1540 – Padua, 1600) was an Italian doctor

Maria Paternò Arezzo (Ragusa Ibla, 11 December 1869 – Messina, 28 December 1908) was an Italian philanthropist

Maria Barba, (Catanzaro, 16 January 1884 – Ragusa, 12 June 1949), Carmelite nun, beatified by Pope John Paul II

Vann’Antò, (Ragusa, 24 August 1891 – Messina, 25 May 1960), was an Italian poet

Maria Occhipinti, (Ragusa, 29 July 1921 – Rome, 20 August 1996) was an Italian activist and writer

Carmelo Cappello, (Ragusa, 21 May 1912 – Milan, 21 December 1996), sculptor

Giorgio Lucenti (Ragusa, 19 September 1975) is a former Italian football player, who played as a midfielder

Santino Coppa, born in Ragusa, October 25, 1950, basketball coach

Carmelo Occhipinti (Ragusa, 5 October 1974) is an art historian and Italian art critic

Loredana Cannata, (Ragusa, 14 July 1975) is an Italian actress and activist

Angelo Russo (Ragusa, 21 October 1961) is an Italian actor

Stead, stage name of Stefano Antoci D’Agostino, (Ragusa, 13 September 1978) is an Italian singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, resident in London

Giovanni Spampinato, (Ragusa, 6 November 1946 – Ragusa, 27 October 1972) was an Italian journalist, victim of the mafia.

Deborah Iurato, (Ragusa, 21 November 1991) is an Italian singer