Ragusa Ibla, baroque pearl

Ragusa Ibla is the oldest part of the city of Ragusa and is located in the eastern part of the same, on the south-eastern side of Sicily. Reconstructed following the 1693 earthquake with a splendid late baroque appearance.

The district, in addition to more than fifty baroque factories, including churches and palaces, also offers the splendid Giardino Ibleo and the excavations of ancient Hybla.

Not to be missed, for every visitor who wants to live in full a “baroque experience”, they are:

The Cathedral of San Giorgio, built after the previous mother church collapsed. Designed by Rosario Gagliardi, the whole structure is designed on a game of perspectives that makes it unique. The dome has recently been attributed to Stefano Ittar. Inside there are works by Vito D’Anna, Antonio Manno and Giuseppe Tresco, the statue of Saint George made by Girolamo Bagnasco and the silver reliquary by Domenico La Villa. The remains of the first factory are preserved in the Duomo museum. altar of the Gagini (XVI century).

Il Giardino Ibleo, the oldest of the four main gardens of the city. It was built in 1858 at the behest of some local nobles and the people. Walking along the driveway, flanked by palm trees, you immediately catch the wonder of this place that also allows you to observe the archaeological excavations of ancient Hybla. Inside the garden, in addition to the churches of San Vincenzo Ferreri, San Giacomo and the Church of the Capuchins, there is also the Portal of San Giorgio, the only surviving element of the disappearance of the church of San Giorgio (collapsed following the 1693 earthquake).

The conversation club, built in 1850, is in neoclassical style.

Palazzo Battaglia, built at the beginning of the eighteenth century, perhaps designed by Rosario Gagliardi.

The Church of San Francesco all’Immacolata, completed to rebuild in 1711 on the site of a previous thirteenth-century factory.

The Church of Santa Maria delle Scale, located on the border between Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore.

The Church of the Most Holy Souls in Purgatory which, although resisted by the earthquake, was enlarged in 1740 in the late Baroque style.

The Church of San Giuseppe with the splendid and imposing facade of superimposed orders is attributed to Rosario Gagliardi.

Palazzo Sortino Trono (1778) with its splendid stone shelves supporting the balconies.

Palazzo Cosentini and its grotesque shelves supporting the balconies of the main floor.

Palazzo La Rocca inside which are still preserved eighteenth-century furnishings.

For those wishing to spend the next holidays in Sicily, a visit to Ragusa is highly recommended. Ragusa Ibla, and Ragusa in general, moreover, offer a varied accommodation system providing the visitor with all types of hospitality (B&B, hotels, relais and agriturismo), excellent restaurants and moments of leisure and culture (the town indeed offers several museums).

The city, which has an excellent urban bus service, is easily reachable by public or private means and also has a railway station with connections to the main cities of the island.