Sicily · Ragusa
Ragusa
Two cities split by a ravine on a Hyblean plateau at 502 meters, both rebuilt after 1693 and both UNESCO Baroque.
Known for
TWO CITIES, ONE UNESCO
Ragusa Superiore and its lower twin rebuilt separately after the 1693 earthquake, inscribed together on the UNESCO list of Val di Noto Baroque towns in 2002.
GAGLIARDI'S DUOMO
Rosario Gagliardi's San Giorgio, dome forty-three meters high on sixteen Corinthian columns, the canonical image of the Sicilian Baroque.
MONTALBANO'S VIGÀTA
The lower town doubles as the fictional Vigàta in the Inspector Montalbano television series, broadcast on RAI since 1999.
RAGUSANO
The commune lies inside the Ragusano DOP production zone.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- J12°
- F14°
- M14°
- A17°
- M23°
- J29°
- J32°
- A31°
- S27°
- O22°
- N17°
- D14°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
Why come
The town sits on a Hyblean plateau at 502 meters, sixty kilometers southwest of Siracusa, on a ridge cut by two deep ravines. The 1693 earthquake killed five thousand of its eleven thousand residents and erased the medieval town that stood there. What followed split the place in two. One faction rebuilt on the old site and kept the ancient name attached to the lower town; the other built a new orthogonal grid on the higher ridge to the west and became Ragusa Superiore. The Valle dei Ponti separates them, crossed by four bridges, and both halves were inscribed together in 2002 as part of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.
The two cathedrals face each other across the divide, one anchoring each half, evidence that the split was never resolved so much as built into stone twice over. What the earthquake broke, the rebuilding fixed into a permanent argument between two street plans on the same ridge: one curled and medieval in outline, the other laid out square.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Ragusa’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
How to get there
Ragusa has its own airport (CIY).
From Catania (CTA), about 1h 46m by car.
By car from the centre of Palermo 3h 46m.
There is a railway station in the comune, so you can arrive without a car.
Coming by train into Siracusa? Ragusa is about 1h 29m away by road.
What to see
Duomo di San Giorgio
Built 1739-1775, three-tier convex façade above a wide staircase that formed the opening shot of the Montalbano titles.
Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista
Eighteenth-century Baroque cathedral on the principal piazza of Ragusa Superiore, balancing the other cathedral across the ravine.
Valle dei Ponti
Deep ravine separating the two halves of the town, crossed by four bridges including the eighteenth-century Ponte dei Cappuccini and the modern Ponte Nuovo.
Ragusa Ibla
Sixty-something churches and palaces compressed onto a single rocky spur, streets that curl around the old medieval footprint rather than a grid.
Giardino Ibleo
Public garden at the eastern tip of Ibla, terraced over the valley with three church ruins and panoramic views across the Hyblean foothills.
Palazzo Cosentini and the carved corbels
Eighteenth-century noble palace in Ibla with figural corbels of musicians and grotesques under the balconies, the local Baroque signature.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Ragusa fits in a slow Italy circuit.
Answer five questions. We will shape a geographically coherent slow trip from the 1,000 Italian towns most travelers skip. Yours to save and share.
We recommend
Where to eat and stay
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to: a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
DuomoRistorante
Three Gambero Rosso forks (93/100) for Duomo, along with a place in L'Espresso's Top 300 and a La Liste score of 94.
I BanchiBistrot
I Banchi has two Gambero Rosso tables and a spot in the Michelin Guide.
Locanda Don SerafinoRistorante
Locanda Don Serafino carries two Gambero Rosso forks (88/100), plus a place in L'Espresso's Top 300.
Cucina e VinoRistorante
A Slow Food snail, at Cucina e Vino.
MonsùRistorante
Monsù carries a Gambero Rosso listing.
Scale del GustoRistorante
Scale del Gusto holds one Gambero Rosso fork (78/100).
Taberna dei Cinque SensiRistorante
Taberna dei Cinque Sensi carries one Gambero Rosso fork (77/100).
Trattoria al Castello DonnafugataTrattoria
One Gambero Rosso prawn, at Trattoria al Castello Donnafugata.
Vossia Il MareRistorante
Vossia Il Mare holds one Gambero Rosso fork (77/100).
VotavotaRistorante
Two Gambero Rosso forks (84/100), at Votavota.
Eremo della GiubilianaHotel
Eremo della Giubiliana has a place in the Michelin hotel guide to its name.
Relais ChiaramonteHotel
Relais Chiaramonte has a place in the Michelin hotel guide to its name.
Signature product
Ragusano DOPDOP
Stretched-curd Sicilian cheese, ripened in parallelepiped blocks suspended by rope; an artisan tradition from the Hyblaean plateau.
See the towns we cover in the zone of Ragusano DOP.
Living here
- Population 73,159
- A local hubi
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Train station in the comune
- Nearest airport Catania, 1 h 46 min drive
- Regional capital Palermo, 3 h 46 min drive
Common questions
- What is Ragusa known for?
- Two cities split by a ravine on a Hyblean plateau at 502 meters, both rebuilt after 1693 and both UNESCO Baroque.
- Where is Ragusa?
- Ragusa is a comune in the province of Ragusa, in Sicily.
- What is the nearest airport to Ragusa?
- There is an airport in the comune (CIY).
- Can you get to Ragusa without a car?
- Yes. There is a railway station in the comune, so you can arrive by train.
- How long is the drive from Palermo to Ragusa?
- About 3h 46m by car.
- When is the best time to visit Ragusa?
- Best in Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. July is the warmest month, averaging 32 degrees, and November the wettest, with about 11 rain days.
- Which other towns are like Ragusa?
- Modica, Monreale and Corleone.
- How many people live in Ragusa?
- 73,159 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 502 m
- Population: 73,159
- Surface area: 444.67 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Featured on
Ragusa appears on this themed pick from our Collections:
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🏛️ UNESCO
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