Things to see in Ragusa

Ragusa is a city in Sicily, Italy. It's the provincial capital, with some 73,000 inhabitants (as of 2014). Along with 7 other nearby cities, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ragusa was part of the Grecian colony of Sicily, and later part of the Roman Byzantine empire. After several raids, in 868 AD it fell to the Muslims, who established the Emirate of Sicily. In 1090 it came under Norman rule. The area was fertile and the city grew up in the area now called Ragusa Ibla. "Hybla" means honey, and was also the name of an ancient deity.

The town was destroyed in the terrible Sicily earthquake of 1693. Most re-building was on higher ground, with Ragusa Superiore being laid out on a grid pattern on a hillside overlooking Ibla.

Ragusa Ibla: The old city is a spectacular mix of narrow streets, steep winding steps, old churches, and fantastic views.

Duomo di San Giorgio, Piazza Duomo (west side of the square). The duomo is the heart of Ibla. The cathedral has an imposing exterior staircase. It is a jewel of baroque architecture. Portale di San Giorgio, Via Normanni. All that remains of the previous (14th-century) church of San Giorgio is this bricked-up doorway, in Gothic-Catalan style. It suggests that church was a grand affair, but its scene of St George slaying the dragon is sadly eroded by the wind. Saint, horse and dragon are now cadaverous, and the damsel is beyond saving. Giardini Iblei (foot of Ibla). Restful public gardens, half in Italian style and half in English style, with views over the valley of the Irminio. With three small medieval churches: St Jacob, St Agata, and St Vicenza which is an artspace. Scavi archeologici Ibla (Archeological Zone), Via Giardino. Small archeological area with Hellenistic-Greek ruins of Hybla dating to the 3rd century BC and Roman ruins dating to the 4th century AD. Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Itria, Via Scale.