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Home > Travel Italy > Italy Destinations > Ragusa
Ragusa
Italy, officially the Italian Republic or Repubblica Italiana, is a Southern European country comprising of the Po River valley, the Italian Peninsula and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. It is shaped like a boot and for this reason Italians commonly call it lo Stivale, the boot or, due to its prevalent peninsular geographical nature, la Penisola, the Peninsula.
Ragusa is a city in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Ragusa, on the island of Sicily, with around 70,000 inhabitants. It is built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys, Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica. The economy of the surrounding province hinges mainly on agriculture, horticulture, olives, farming, tourism, light manufacturing and small oilfields. Together with other seven cities in the Val di Noto, it is listed among the UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Sites.
The origins of Ragusa can be traced back to the 2nd millennium before common era, when in its area there were several settlements of the ancient Sicels. The current Ragusa Ibla lies probably on one of them, identified as Hybla Heraia. Ragusa was occupied by the Arabs in 848 common era, remaining under their rule until the 11th century, when the Normans conquered it. Selected as County seat, its first Count was Geoffrey, son of Count Roger I of Sicily.
Ragusa Ibla hosts a wide array of Baroque architecture, including several stunning palaces and churches. The Cathedral of San Giorgio was built in 1738 by architect Rosario Gagliardi, in substition of the temple destroyed by the 1693 earthquake and of which only a Catalan-Gothyic style portal can still be seen. The facade is characterized by a flight of 250 steps and by massive ornate columns, as well as by statues of saints and decorated portals. The interior has a Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles ending in half-circular apses. It is topped by a large Neoclassical dome built in 1820.
Presently, Ragusa experiences a sharp social, economic and population growth derivative of the strategic position of the locality and the high level of well-being and quality of life that is enjoyed with respect to other places of Italy.
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