A baroque town on a hill, crowned by the dome of San Giorgio
After the earthquake of 1693, Ragusa was rebuilt in two parts: a new upper town on the plateau and Ragusa Ibla, the old town reborn on its medieval plan on a hill surrounded by valleys. Linked by long staircases, they are one of the most spectacular sights of the Val di Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ibla is a dream of honey-coloured stone: at the top of the sloping Piazza Duomo rises the cathedral of San Giorgio by Rosario Gagliardi, with its scenographic tower-façade and blue dome. Lanes and stairways lead past the church of San Giuseppe, noble palaces with balconies supported by grotesque masks and the Giardino Ibleo, a public garden with views over the valley. Ibla has become famous as one of the sets of the TV series Inspector Montalbano.
Tip: walk down from the upper town along the Scale di Santa Maria for the classic view of Ibla; Ragusa has several Michelin-starred restaurants.
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