A Guide to Ragusa

Ragusa is located in the south-east corner of Sicily. It is a town that consists of two parts: Ragusa upper town and Ragusa Ibla. The two towns were once independent of each other and experienced great rivalry with one another. However in 1926 they were united. The surrounding landscape comprises of a sweep of hills and Ragusa is a reminder of the medieval hill towns of Umbria such as Siena.

The name "Ragusa" is derived from the Greek-Byzantine term "Rogos", meaning "granary". The sleepy town of Ragusa Ibla is where you will find the most interesting monuments which include the Church of St Maria delle Scale, the Cathedral of St Giovanni Battista, the Church of Purgatory with its Baroque portal, and Palazzo Donnafugata in which there are impressive paintings by Ribera and da Messina.

Aside from the divine cake shops there is a variety of traditional delicacies that are produce of the local agriculture. Ragusano cheese, Astemperata, cereals, almonds, walnuts, grapes and olives being only a few that make the local dishes scrumptious.