Ragusa Sicily Travel Guide - Visiting Ragusa, Italy

Ragusa is a fascinating town on Italy's island of Sicily. Ragusa's baroque architecture has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. It's an unusual town, divided into two parts - the Upper Town and Ibla. After the earthquake of 1693 destroyed most of the town, half the people decided to build on the ridge above town and the other half renovated the old town. Ibla, the lower town, is reached on foot by a series of stairways or by bus or car on a winding downhill road. There's a large parking lot at the bottom of the road. From the upper town there are enchanting views of Ibla.

Ragusa is in the Val di Noto of southeastern Sicily about 90 kilometers from Catania. See Sicily Map on Europe Travel for location. Marina di Ragusa, a well developed resort with beaches, is on the coast about 20 kilometers from the town. Modica, another UNESCO Baroque town, is about 8 kilometers to the south. Ragusa can be visited as a day trip from the city of Syracusa, to the east of Ragusa.

The closest airport is Catania, Sicily (see Italy airports map). From the airport, there are frequent connections on ETNA Transporti coaches. Train service is on the Catania - Siracusa - Ragusa rail line and the station is in the center of the Upper Town. Buses to nearby towns depart from Piazza Stazione. A local bus connects Corso Italia, the upper town's main street, with Ibla.

Tourist information is available in Upper Town in Piazza San Giovanni by the cathedral. Ibla tourist offices are on Via Capitano Bocchieri and near Largo Camarina.

Upper Town hotel choices are the 5-star Antica Badia Relais or near the train station, the 4-star Best Western Mediterraneo Palace (book direct).

I recommend staying in Ibla to avoid the long, uphill walk back to Upper Town and it's more convenient to restaurants and monuments. The Hotel Il Barocco and Palazzo Degli Archi are 3-star hotels in the center of Ibla. San Giorgio Palace is a 4-star boutique hotel and Locanda Don Serafino is a small 4-star hotel that's a member of the Romantik hotels. There are several bed and breakfast inns in Ibla. The Bed & Breakfast L'Orto sul Tetto can be booked on Venere.

There are many restaurant choices in Ibla. We had a very good meal at Nuova Rusticana, Corso XXV Aprile. Ristorante Il Saracina was also good. Locanda Don Serafino has a high-end restaurant with a creative menu and good wine cellar. In the Upper Town, we had two good, inexpensive meals at Al Bocconcino, serving typical food of Ragusa, Corso Vittorio Veneto 96 (closed Sundays).

Piazza Duomo in Ibla is a nice place to sit and enjoy a coffee or snack. If you want ice cream try Gelati Divini, selling good ice cream made from wines.

Take a look at these spectacular photos of Ragusa Ibla by James Martin on Europe Travel. Pictures include the duomo, night shots, Ibla just after a storm, and building detail photos.

Another enchanting Baroque town in the Val di Noto is Scicli. Take a look at Scicli with these Scicli pictures on Europe travel.

There are 18 UNESCO monuments, five in the Upper Town and the rest in Ibla. Many of the buildings are ornately decorated in Baroque style. Be sure to look up at the balconies and figures above.

The spectacular Baroque Duomo di San Giorgio sits in the center of Ibla, behind a large piazza where there are several cafes, shops, and Gelati Divini, selling ice cream made from wines. Ibla has several UNESCO churches - Santa Maria dell'Idria, San Filippo Neri, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, san Giuseppe, Santa Maria del Gesu, San Francesco, and Chiesa Anime del Purgatorio. UNESCO Baroque buildings in Ibla are Palazzo della Cancelleria, Palazzo Cosentini, Palazzo Sortino Trono, Palazzo La Rocca, and Palazzo Battaglia.

At the far end of Ibla is a large, pretty park with picturesque views from the edge. Buses stop in front of the park and there's a small parking lot next to it.

Along the southeast cliffs of the Ibla are Bronze age necropoli. They can be seen from the road to Modica.

In the Upper Town is San Giovanni Cathedral dating from 1706, in a large piazza off Corso Italia. There are three Baroque buildings - Palazzo Vescovile, Palazzo Zacco, and Palazzo Bertini. The small Church of Santa Maria delle Scale, dating originally from 1080, sits just at the top of the stairs leading down to Ibla.

The Ibleo Archaeological Museum, in the Upper Town, has finds from archaeological digs in the province. Materials cover prehistoric to late Roman settlements.

Via Roma, in the Upper Town, is a big shopping street. There are several bars and restaurants near Via Roma.