The Two Souls of Ragusa, Sicily

Ragusa is a city with two souls. It has a modern area and an ancient, Baroque-style area called Ibla. Ragusa has the refined elegance that characterizes the late-baroque towns of the Val di Noto. We flew from Morocco to Catania, Sicily (via Rome), picked up our rental car, and drove the dark back roads to reach Ragusa.

Having read about the attractive Baroque towns of Sicily, we decided to base in Ragusa for three nights for day trips. We stayed at the Giorgio Palace Hotel, which is the light yellow building with green shutters to the right of center above. We particularly liked that it had an elevator, as Ragusa is very hilly with lots of stairs.

When we started out the next morning to meet the town, a kitty came running up from a church and begged for treats and attention. Of course, we complied.

A view up Via Ibla (the main street of old town) to the Basilica di San Giorgio.

The Basilica di San Giorgio, built in 1738 by Rosario Gagliardo. It lies at the top of some 200 steps and has an impressive neoclassical dome that was added in 1820.

The interior of the Basilica isn't as gilded as others we've seen. The tapestry in the archway at the pulpit is definitely a reminder of the sacrifice.

Gardino Ibla is a lovely park at the end of the promontory overlooking the valley.

Chiesa/Church di San Giuseppe in Ragusa Ibla. If the design looks familiar, it was also designed by Rosario Gagliardo. It is part of the monastery for Benedictine nuns.

We walked a long way up to a viewpoint in Ragusa Superiore (upper Ragusa is the more modern part of town) over Ragusa Ibla (lower town, old town). The blue dome of the bell tower belongs to Chiesa Santa Maria Dell'Itria in Ragusa Ibla.

All lighted up, the night time view of the Basilica di San Giorgio is stunning.