Sicily - Ragusa Ibla (Inferior & Superior)

Ragusa Ibla is a small city in southern Sicily of 75,000 people built on a limestone hill between two deep valleys. It has city status because of the Cathedral of Saint Giovanni Battista. It has a long history dating back to the 2nd Millennium BC and has seen various rulers from Arabs to Romans until conquered by the Normans in the 11th Century. It became part of the Kingdom of Sicily which in turn was incorporated into the Italian Republic by Giuseppe Garibaldi. Ragusa Ibla is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is an amalgamation of two parts, Ragusa Inferiore and Ragusa Superiore, the lower town and the upper town or as some would have it the old town and the new town. Much was destroyed in an earthquake in 1693 but as much was rebuilt in the new town in the Baroque style so prevalent in Sicily and Italy.
We spent a good few hours walking the narrow streets and alleyways and found the city an intriguing mix of style, character and that unique Italian decadence providing shabbiness and class all in one. I could easily go for a second visit and would recommend it as a destination in Sicily. You need not walk around all day either, there are numerous cafes and even a two star Michelin restaurant to cater for all needs. You will also notice from these pictures the lack of people in the streets - it was low season and photographic opportunities without the hordes were easily come by.

The 'lower town' taken from inside the minibus. The small houses appear set into the limestone cliff.

Cathedral and lower town

Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square)

The 'upper town'

Entrance to a home in upper town Ragusa

View west towards the old town and viaduct crossing the valley

Pastel coloured roof tiles and washing line - so Italian!

View from the public gardens to the upper town

 

Main entrance to the public gardens (Giardini Iblei)

Monument to fallen Italian soldiers of WW1. The inscription reads Pro Patria but whatever was mounted on the pedestal is no longer there. Some 600,000 Italian soldiers died in WW1. I saw no mention of WW2.

 

Fountain in Giardini Iblei

 

Portal to the old Cathedral of San Giorgio. The church was destroyed in the 1693 earthquake but the portal was restored showing the Knight slaying the Dragon. The new Cathedral was built more towards the centre of town near the top of the hill. 



How to get where you're going in Ragusa? Easy, just follow the signs!